Raw Milk Bill Passes Senate!

H.218, the new raw milk bill, passed out of the Senate Ag Cmte 4/14 with a vote of 4-1-0! Senator Brian Collamore remarked that he had been staunchly against the bill until he heard farmer testimony and was contacted by dozens and dozens of constituents and farmers on this issue. Today, he was the one who made a motion to pass the bill. Senator Parent was the sole vote against the bill. The committee made one minor amendment that expands the definition of CSA to make it more broad for diversified operations. We will share the exact bill language when it is available. Senator Pollina presented the bill on the Senate Floor for second reading on 4/20, where it passed in a landslide with only two votes against the bill (Senator Parent and Senator Brock).

The bill easily passes third reading and final vote on 4/21. The bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law, allowed to become law, or vetoed. We do not expect the Governor to veto this bill, and believe we have the necessary 2/3 majority in both the House and Senate to overturn a veto if he did. If the Governor allows this bill to become law, it will go effect on 7/1/21.  

Contact Governor Scott and ask him to sign H.218 into law!

Thank you to the many, many farmers, eaters, and activists that helped us get this far. This is your victory!

What’s in the bill:

  • Tier two raw milk producers would be able to sell raw milk at other farm’s farmstands and CSAs within the state of Vermont (the 30 mile limit was removed)

  • The requirement to verbally inform each customer of the need to refrigerate milk is removed

  • The CSA or Farmstand selling the milk will maintain the required transaction records and customer contact records required by existing law. Farmstand and CSA owners will transfer this information to the raw milk producer within one week. 

  • Milk must remain below 40 degree Fahrenheit at all times 

  • The milk producer must notify VAAFM of any CSA or farmstand locations their milk is being sold. These locations will be subject to inspection by VAAFM. 

  • The farm producing the milk and the farm selling the milk must have a conversation and mutual understanding about shared liability of this product

  • The farmstand or CSA where milk is sold must display the 8.5x11 warning sign: “Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk. Keep Refrigerated. Consuming raw unpasteurized milk may cause illness, particularly in children, seniors, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.”

  • All labeling and other requirements of the law remain the same

  • The cmte added language requested by VAAFM to clarify the existing requirement that rabies vaccines, tuberculosis, and brucellosis tests must be conducted by a licensed veterinarian

  • If successful, these changes would go into effect July 1, 2021

Questions? Contact mollie@ruralvermont.org

Rural Vermont