LANSING, Mich. — Michigan is home to more than 15 million egg-laying hens, and by December 31, 2024, all will be housed in cage-free environments. Senate Bill 174, which set the state’s first-ever cage-free hen housing standard, became law today with the signature of Lt. Governor, Garlin Gilchrist. The bill was passed with overwhelming, bi-partisan support in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature.
Supported enthusiastically by Michigan’s family egg farmers, SB 174 amended the Michigan Animal Industry Act, to set new standards for animal housing. In particular, it aligns the needs of farmers with commitments made by egg retailers, who have promised to sell only cage-free eggs by 2025.
“Signing Senate Bill 174 into law ends the uncertainty in Michigan’s animal housing for egg laying hens,” said Allison Brink, executive director of Michigan Allied Poultry Industries. “When this law takes effect, Michigan will lead the nation in cage free egg production as we fully safeguard both egg-laying hens and the family farms who are among the leading egg producers in the U.S.”
Michigan is currently sixth in the nation for egg production, which made passing SB 174 vitally important to the future of farming. Furthermore, hundreds of companies made national commitments with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), promising to sell only cage-free eggs by 2025, including dozens that do business in Michigan. In response, farmers are investing millions to build new, cage-free hen houses, and are proactively working to complete the transition.
Eight and a half million Michigan hens are currently living in cage-free houses, approximately 56 percent of the total egg-laying hen population. Another million (6 percent) will live cage-free by the end of 2020.
Michigan is now the fifth state, and the largest egg producing state in the nation to adopt a cage-free requirement, joining California, Washington, Oregon and Rhode Island.
“We are proud of this agreement, and we are grateful for Governor Whitmer’s support, the support of both Senator Kevin Daley and Representative Julie Alexander, and we appreciate the advocacy organizations who came to the negotiating table so each of us could achieve our goals.”
— Brian Burch for Michigan Allied Poultry Industries
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