AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 20 of section 4.1-25-01 and sections 4.1-25-30, 4.1-25-31, 4.1-25-32, and 4.1-25-33 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the definition of pasteurized milk ordinance and the federal pasteurized milk ordinance revision.
House Bill 1083 updates North Dakota’s dairy law references to align with the most recent federal and national milk-safety standards. The bill revises the statutory definition of the “pasteurized milk ordinance” to reference the 2023 revision of the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance issued by the FDA and USDA Public Health Service, replacing the prior 2019 reference. It also updates related cross-references in the Century Code to newer editions of federal guidance used for milk sanitation ratings, laboratory evaluations, and interstate milk shipment procedures.
The bill keeps the existing framework in place that requires grade A milk standards for fluid milk sold for human consumption, but modernizes the incorporated technical documents that state officials and regulated dairy businesses must follow. It authorizes the agriculture commissioner to continue adopting additional rules in the interest of public safety, sanitation, wholesomeness, consumer interest, and marketability. In practical terms, the measure is a conformity and maintenance bill that ensures North Dakota’s dairy inspection, certification, and laboratory oversight rules remain consistent with current federal and industry standards.
The overall sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. It passed the House 93-0 and the Senate 47-0, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. The bill was introduced at the request of the Agriculture Commissioner and moved through the Agriculture Committee, suggesting it was viewed as a routine technical update rather than a policy change.
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The main issue is simply keeping state law synchronized with updated federal publications and procedures, which affects dairy producers, processors, manufacturers, milk sanitation officers, and laboratory evaluators. Because the bill does not appear to change the underlying grade A milk requirements, any concern would likely be limited to compliance with updated technical standards rather than disagreement over the policy itself.
HB1083 amends North Dakota Century Code chapter 4.1-25 to update incorporated federal and industry standards governing grade A milk, milk products, sanitation ratings, laboratory evaluations, and interstate milk shipment procedures. It changes the statutory reference for the pasteurized milk ordinance from the 2019 revision to the 2023 revision and updates related references used by state milk regulators and regulated dairy operations. The bill affects dairy producers, processors, manufacturers, milk laboratories, and state inspection/certification personnel by requiring compliance with the newer editions of the referenced federal publications and procedures.
The bill was received as a routine technical conformity measure and appears to have been broadly supported. It passed both chambers unanimously, with no recorded dissent in the vote history provided. The lack of committee transcript discussion and the request coming from the Agriculture Commissioner suggest the measure was viewed as administrative housekeeping necessary to keep state law aligned with current federal dairy standards.
No notable opposition or controversy is evident in the available materials. The only potential point of discussion is the incorporation of updated federal standards into state law, which can affect compliance obligations for dairy businesses and oversight duties for state officials. However, the unanimous votes and absence of recorded debate indicate that any concerns were minimal or resolved without dispute.