Food: milk; definition of pasteurized milk ordinance; update. Amends sec. 6 of 2001 PA 266 (MCL 288.476).
Summary
Senate Bill 770 updates Michigan’s Grade A Milk Law by revising the statutory definition of the “Pasteurized milk ordinance” (PMO). The bill replaces the prior reference to the 2017 revision of the PMO with the 2023 revision published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Because the PMO is incorporated into Michigan law, this change keeps the state’s milk regulation framework aligned with the most current national standards for Grade A milk production, processing, and distribution.
The bill does not appear to create new regulatory programs or change the basic structure of the milk law. Instead, it modernizes incorporated definitions used to regulate dairy farms, milk plants, receiving stations, retail dairy sales, sampling equipment, sanitary standards, and related compliance terms. In practical terms, the update affects producers, processors, and other regulated dairy businesses by ensuring that Michigan’s standards track the latest federal and industry guidance used for milk safety and sanitation.
Impact
SB 770 amends section 6 of the Grade A Milk Law of 2001, specifically the definition section in MCL 288.476. The main legal effect is to update the incorporated PMO reference from the 2017 revision to the 2023 revision, which can influence how state milk sanitation, equipment, sampling, and operational standards are interpreted and enforced. The bill primarily affects dairy producers, milk processors, receiving stations, and retail food establishments that handle Grade A milk and milk products.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It was reported favorably in committee without amendment and later passed the Senate by a 29-6 vote, indicating broad support for the update. The lack of committee transcripts limits insight into detailed debate, but the votes suggest the bill was viewed as a routine technical update rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
There is little evidence of major contention in the available record. Because the bill is a technical conformity update to an incorporated federal-style milk ordinance, any disagreement would likely center on whether adopting the 2023 PMO revision could impose new compliance burdens on dairy businesses or regulators. However, the strong committee and floor votes indicate that any such concerns were not substantial enough to prevent passage.