The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5134, aims to establish 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 any inspections conducted by the Commissioner or their designated agent must comply with relevant federal regulations concerning health, sanitation, and safety. Facilities that successfully pass these inspections will be recognized as approved food sources for various consumers, including households, restaurants, hotels, and retail food establishments. The bill defines a "producer" as an individual engaged in farming who breeds, raises, or keeps up to one thousand rabbits annually for food production.

The bill's intent is 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 clarify the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Agriculture and the criteria for designating approved food sources, while no deletions from existing law are noted in the text. The bill is co-sponsored by Representative Yaccarino from the 87th District.