2026 General Legislative Session Day 24 (2/12/2026) Part 1 Recording 2 [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a roll call confirming a quorum. The committee introduced two bills: House Bill 555, concerning changes to family law actions by Representative Tracy Miller, and House Bill 556, regarding Special District Board Appointment Amendments by Representative Strong. Both bills were referred to the House Rules Committee. Representative Chevrier discussed House Bill 179, which focuses on raw milk sales. He shared personal anecdotes about raw milk and emphasized the importance of local milk production for the economy. The bill aims to hold producers accountable for safety standards, including laboratory testing, sanitation, and labeling. It allows for the sale of raw milk in stores without the previous 51% ownership requirement, provided it is clearly labeled and separated from pasteurized milk. A second substitute for the bill was introduced and adopted by a voice vote. Representative Daley-Provo raised concerns about oversight of complaints against producers, particularly regarding the anonymity of complainants, and expressed worries that the bill might reduce necessary safety regulations. Representative Kohler opposed the bill, arguing it lowers standards for raw milk production and could compromise public safety. He highlighted the differences in regulatory treatment between raw and pasteurized milk. Representative Snyder also opposed the bill, stating it creates a disparity in regulatory standards that could endanger public health. In contrast, Representative Elison supported the bill, sharing his experiences growing up on a dairy farm and arguing against excessive regulation that burdens farmers. Representative Lizenby proposed an amendment to clarify certain provisions in the bill, which was supported by Representative Chevrier. Lizenby expressed her support for the bill, highlighting the importance of raw milk availability and the need for regulatory reform. The meeting included a motion to amend a bill, supported by Representative Liz Embiid, which passed with a verbal amendment. Following this, Representative Wilcox expressed concerns about creating a disparate market and suggested taking time to find a solution. Representative Chevrier opposed the motion to circle for further discussion, which ultimately failed. Chevrier emphasized the bill's aim to protect small producers and improve consumer access, arguing for consumer choice and the importance of a free market. Voting on the second substitute for HB 179 concluded with 46 votes in favor and 20 against, allowing the bill to proceed to the Senate. Various committee reports were presented and adopted, including recommendations for House Bill 114, House Bill 405, House Bill 443, and House Bill 384, with each report accepted and bills assigned to the appropriate calendars. The meeting concluded with announcements from both the minority and majority caucuses, followed by a unanimous motion to adjourn until the next day.