Raw Milk Legislation - MO

christij · #1 01/14/08, 06:56 AM

I am cross posting this from what my friend posted on the goat forum in case there are any cattle people that may be interested....
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For those who might be interested, I received this e-mail tonight regarding the sale of raw milk in MO! (this is a portion of it)

The current State Laws regulating the sale and production of raw milk were passed in 1972 and have some very contradicting points. These points are more and more frequently becoming an area for conflict between Raw Milk Producers and the Missouri State Milk Board, who regulate all milk production in the state. To alleviate this contention, Missouri Representative Belinda Harris (District 110) is submitting legislation for the 2008 Session to modify, and thus clarify, the Missouri Raw Milk Laws. If passed, this legislation will allow Raw Milk Producers to direct market raw milk without state mandated inspections or unnecessary expensive equipment.

The proposed legislation will be going to a House Committee in 1 ½ to 2 weeks. This Committee will determine if the legislation should be given a bill number to be heard and voted upon on the House Floor. To help insure that this legislation reaches the House Floor to be voted on, and hopefully passed, we need raw milk drinkers to show their support by contacting the Committee Members by phone or letter. We do not yet have the Committee Member’s names and contact information, but Rep. Harris’ Office will be passing that information on to me as soon as it is available. I will then pass it on to you all. I talked with Rep. Harris’ Office this morning and they emphasized that it is vital to the success of this legislation that we all show our support during the Committee review period. We encourage you to support this legislation that will make raw milk more readily available to a larger number of people.

If you would like more specific information on the current Milk Laws or the proposed legislation, you can contact Representative Harris’ office directly. We have found them to be very helpful and encouraging on this issue.

linn · #2 01/14/08, 08:04 AM

Rep. Harris also opposes mandated NAIS. I wish more of our representatives were like her and Jim Guest.

Terry W · #3 01/14/08, 10:17 AM

Is it possible to get a forum up here aimed at legislation and those who vote for and against it? Some way of helping us know who is fer us, and who is agin' us!!!

jerzeygurl · #4 01/14/08, 11:54 AM

i hope the new law is better and not worse....

christij · #5 01/16/08, 08:45 PM

More info
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Here is an additional e-mail I received with info on who to contact and how to do so:

I talked with Rep. Belinda Harris' Office on Monday. They have requested that we all go ahead and contact our State Representatives and ask them to “Support Rep. Belinda Harris ’ raw milk legislation by becoming a co-sponsor”. After the legislation has officially been filed and is given to a committee, they may ask us to then contact the committee members to show additional support.

You can find your Representatives contact information on The Missouri House of Representatives website: www.house.state.mo.us Just type your nine digit zip code into the Legislator Look Up box at the bottom right of the home page. It has been suggested that letters have a maximum length of 1 page.

furholler · #6 01/16/08, 09:39 PM

We need to stay on top of this one. Thanks for the info.