The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5134, establishes the Commissioner of Agriculture as the official responsible for inspecting rabbit producers and processing facilities in the state. Effective October 1, 2025, the bill mandates that inspections must comply with relevant federal regulations concerning health, sanitation, and safety. Producers, defined as individuals who breed, raise, or keep up to one thousand rabbits annually for food production, will have their facilities inspected. Those that pass inspection will be recognized as approved food sources for various consumers, including households, restaurants, and retail establishments.

The bill aims to create a framework for the processing of rabbits for consumption, thereby enhancing the availability of rabbit meat in the state. It introduces new legal language to define the roles and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Agriculture and the criteria for facility approval, while deleting any outdated provisions that may not align with the new regulations. The overall intent is to ensure safe and regulated rabbit processing in Connecticut.