CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State lawmakers are trying again with the raw milk bill. The House of Delegates gave the bill (SB387) final approval Tuesday afternoon.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed the bill last year citing public safety concerns. The legislature would have time to override Tomblin’s veto, if he goes that route again, before the March 12 end of the regular session.
The bill would not allow for the retail sale of raw milk but calls for the establishment of herd share agreements where consumers could co-own a milk-producing animal.
The legislature is ignoring the advice of medical experts, Del. Don Perdue (D-Wayne) said.
“The CDC and the FDA both say this is a bad idea. The most renown scientists in the United States have said this is a bad idea and yet, once again, we’re going to rebut science,” Perdue said.
Other delegates wondered why there was a problem with approving the bill.
“Guys we’re not talking about legalizing marijuana or anything like that, we’re simply talking about—milk,” Del. Josh Nelson (R-Boone) said.
This year’s bill puts the Department of Agriculture as oversight instead of the state Bureau of Public Health.
The bill passed the House 88-11.