Maine Legislative Council passes cage-free egg bill

Maine’s Legislative Council approved a bill that would prohibit certain confinements of hens and the sale of their eggs.

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(Germans | Bigstock)
(Germans | Bigstock)

Maine’s Legislative Council approved a bill that would prohibit certain confinements of hens and the sale of their eggs.

The measure, which was advocated by animal rights groups like American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Mercy for Animals, calls for hens raised in Maine to be raised in cage-free laying systems that include enrichments. It would also call for eggs sold in Maine to meet the same criteria.

The bill, LR 2897, was approved on December 6 by a 6-4 vote. The Legislative Council, according to the Maine State Legislature’s webpage, is the administrative body for the legislative branch of Maine’s state government.  It consists of the ten elected members of legislative leadership: the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House, the Republican and Democratic floor leaders for both the Senate and House of Representatives and their assistant floor leaders.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Margaret O’Neil, D-Saco.

Now that the bill has passed through the Legislative Council, it will be considered by the state’s legislature in its next session, which will begin in January.

Maine's legislators operate differently from others in that bills to be considered by the new session in January must first pass this Legislative Council. 

The National Association of Egg Farmers is opposed to LR 2897, saying the bill, if it becomes law, will not benefit the chicken or the consumer.

Ken Klippen, president of the association, said he has been invited by Brooke Barron, senior policy advisor to the Speaker of the House Rep. Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, to testify or submit comments when the bill is considered during the regular session.

If the bill becomes law, it would join other states where similar laws have been approved, including California, Oregon, Washington, Rhode Island, and Michigan.

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