West Virginia Senate Bill SB366

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25

Caption

Department of Agriculture rule relating to WV manufacture-grade milk

Summary

SB 366 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to promulgate a legislative rule concerning West Virginia manufacture-grade milk. The bill does not create a new regulatory program in statute; instead, it gives legislative approval to an existing agency rule that was filed in the State Register, modified to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, and refiled for consideration. In practical terms, the bill is a rule-authorization measure that allows the Department of Agriculture’s manufacture-grade milk rule, codified as 61 CSR 19, to take effect. The underlying rule is tied to state oversight of milk production and standards for manufacture-grade milk, which generally affects dairy processors, milk producers, and related agricultural businesses operating in West Virginia. The bill’s impact on state law is limited but important procedurally: it amends §64-9-1 of the West Virginia Code to add this rule to the list of authorized legislative rules. By approving the rule, the Legislature enables the Department of Agriculture to enforce the standards and requirements contained in the regulation, rather than leaving the rule without legislative authorization. The available context shows little overt controversy or debate. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, and the bill appears to be a straightforward administrative authorization measure. The general sentiment inferred from the bill text is neutral to supportive, since the measure is presented as a routine approval of a revised agency rule that already responded to legislative review concerns. The main point of potential contention would be the substance of the underlying milk regulation itself, including any compliance costs or operational requirements for dairy and milk-processing stakeholders. However, because no discussion or vote history is included, there is no evidence of specific opposition or support from legislators, industry groups, or agricultural interests in the provided materials.

Impact

SB 366 amends West Virginia Code §64-9-1 to authorize the Department of Agriculture’s legislative rule on West Virginia manufacture-grade milk (61 CSR 19). This gives the agency’s rule legal effect and allows it to govern standards and requirements for manufacture-grade milk production and processing in the state, affecting dairy producers, milk processors, and related agricultural operations.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have a neutral-to-supportive sentiment based on its text and posture as a routine rule-authorization measure. No committee transcripts or vote records are provided, and there is no indication of recorded controversy in the available materials. The bill was introduced as an administrative authorization after the rule was revised to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee.

Contention

No specific contention is documented in the provided context. The only likely area of debate would be the substance of the Department of Agriculture’s manufacture-grade milk rule itself, including whether its standards impose costs or compliance burdens on dairy and milk-processing stakeholders. Because there are no transcripts or votes, it is not possible to identify named opponents or supporters from the record provided.