By Andi Anderson
Illinois State Senator Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, has put forth SB3655, the Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens Act, aiming to eradicate caged egg production in the state by January 1, 2026. The bill outlines strict regulations, making it unlawful for farm owners to confine laying hens in enclosures that do not meet cage-free housing standards.
Senator Holmes, Chairperson of the Senate’s Agriculture, Commerce, and Economic Development Committee, asserts that the proposed legislation aligns with the 2017 edition of the United Egg Producers' Animal Husbandry Guidelines. These guidelines dictate the minimum usable floor space per hen in cage-free systems.
Under the proposed law, businesses in Illinois are prohibited from knowingly selling eggs that do not adhere to the specified production standards. However, a provision offers protection to business owners who, in good faith, rely on written certifications from suppliers confirming compliance with the Act.
The enforcement of the proposed law would be overseen by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, with the state’s director of agriculture authorized to establish necessary rules.
SB3655 also introduces a civil penalty of $2,000 per violation per day. Senator David Koehler, D-Peoria, joins Sen. Linda Holmes as a sponsor of this legislation.
While Illinois is taking a bold step towards phasing out caged egg production, Utah faces deliberations over its 2021 law, which initially aimed for cage-free compliance by January 1, 2025. Concerns about feasibility have prompted Utah legislators to propose extending the deadline to 2030, gaining unanimous support from the Utah Senate Business and Labor Committee.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-chubarovy
Categories: Illinois, Livestock, Poultry