SB1721

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Administrative Code (ACC) requires, beginning January 1, 2025, all egg-laying hens in Arizona to be housed in a cage-free manner and that all eggs and egg products sold in Arizona be produced from hens housed in a cage-free manner. However, this requirement does not apply to egg producers that operate egg ranches with fewer than 20,000 egg-laying hens.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would restricts the Department from adopting rules that require or prescribe minimum housing size standards for egg-laying hens.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to turn the Legislature's standard for egg-laying hens into an enforceable rule. It would restricts the Department from adopting rules that require or prescribe minimum housing size standards for egg-laying hens, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.