Sponsors (10)
The bill broadens interstate market access and legal recognition for raw‑milk producers and cow‑share participants while keeping regulatory control with States, but it does so by restricting federal public‑health authority—raising the risk of foodborne illness, hampering multistate outbreak responses, and creating uneven consumer protections and enforcement uncertainty.
Farmers and raw‑milk consumers in States that permit unpasteurized milk can ship and receive raw milk across State lines under origin‑State rules, expanding market access and consumer choice.
Participants in cow‑share arrangements (farmers and consumers) are legally recognized and can receive milk across State lines when compliant with origin‑State law, protecting these ownership/participation models.
State governments retain authority over labeling, warnings, and sale rules for unpasteurized milk because the bill explicitly avoids preempting State law, preserving State regulatory control.
Consumers who purchase or consume unpasteurized milk face a higher risk of foodborne illness because federal agencies would be limited in restricting interstate sales that pose public‑health hazards.
State public‑health authorities and consumers could experience slower outbreak response and reduced federal assistance for multistate raw‑milk outbreaks because FDA/CDC authority to act across State lines would be constrained.
Consumers in destination States may face weaker or inconsistent labeling and safety protections when producers sell under origin‑State rules, creating confusion and uneven consumer protections across States.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Prevents federal agencies and courts from restricting interstate transport of unpasteurized milk/products when origin and destination States allow such sales and origin-State rules are followed.
Bars federal agencies and courts from stopping or regulating the interstate transport of unpasteurized milk and unpasteurized milk products for direct human consumption when four conditions are met: the only reason for action would be that the product is unpasteurized; the product’s state of origin allows such distribution; the product complies with that state’s production, packaging, and labeling rules; and the destination state also allows distribution. The measure preserves state law authority and includes definitions for terms like cowshare, pasteurized, and unpasteurized.
Introduced March 9, 2026 by Thomas Massie · Last progress March 9, 2026