H.B. 432 Egg Amendments: transcript

House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee, Feb 12, 2026

1. Committee chair (presiding)1:40:37

   Um, house Bill 4 32 Ag Amendments. We're gonna move that up to, to right now with Representative Shipp. Representative. Go. Go ahead.

2. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:40:56

   Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee. We're gonna be here for a while with this bill. Just so you know, I'm, I'm told you only have two minutes, so. Oh, okay. Okay. This is, is, uh, basically kind of a cleanup bill, HB 4 32 Ag Amendments. Uh, this has to do with kind of aligning large producers and small producers and what the regulations are. So, uh, to let the committee know, I'm surprised that this didn't go to natural resources, but, uh, here we are. Large producer is one that has 3000 or more layers or hens layers. Okay. Small producers are less than that. And so, uh, this, uh, a retailer also includes restaurants and grocery stores. That's one of the changes. Uh, the department has rules. And, uh, Amber's here with me to kind of, uh, answer any hard questions for you. Uh, so small producers have some limitations on rules. There's no rules regarding small producers except for regarding temperature cleaning, making sure we don't have bad eggs and so forth. Uh, whereas large producers, there's going to be certain required, uh, inspections and so forth, which don't apply to small producers. Uh, small producers can also sell their eggs in, in grow in stores. They just have to be separated and labeled so that people know whether they're getting small producer eggs or large producer eggs. Uh, so, uh, let's see. What else did we want to cover? Here are, so large producers must register, register with their department as a food establishment. And these inspections, uh, are important for the housing and operations and vehicles that large producers use. Uh, and they have to maintain their records for at least two years, large producers too. And so I'm gonna turn some time to Amber to add, add to it If I may. Mr. Chair.

3. Amber Brown, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food1:43:13

   Um, my name is Amber Brown, deputy Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture and Food. Um, yeah, represe, Representative Shipp has covered this, well, this is just kind of cleaning up, um, the egg statute. So several years ago, the department transferred responsibility most of our responsibilities with respect to large producers, particularly with egg grading to the USDA. And so we hadn't fixed the statute to align with that change. And so this is just making it clear what responsibilities we have with respect to large producers and small producers. There was a bill that Representative Shipp actually ran in 2024 that delineated some of those things with respect to small producers and allowing their eggs to be sold in grocery stores. And so we're not touching any of that. Um, we're just kind of moving things around to make it make it clearer. So I'd be happy to answer any questions.

4. Committee chair (presiding)1:44:02

   Got thank, thank you. Does that include your presentation?

5. Amber Brown, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Food1:44:04

   That does, thank you. Okay.

6. Committee chair (presiding)1:44:06

   Uh, we'll, uh, take you to the committee for any clarifying questions. Does not appear we have any, um, we will take it to the public. Is there anyone from the public that would like to speak to this? Bill? Anybody online? All right. Then we'll take it back to the Committee for Action. Representative Matthews.

7. Rep. Ashlee Matthews1:44:31

   Thank you, Mr. Chair. Oh, is there a substitute? I don't appear. Oh, it's a clean bill. All right. In that case, my motion is that we pass out favorably HB 4 32.

8. Committee chair (presiding)1:44:42

   Okay. Would you like to speak to that? Nope. Okay. The sponsor. It's a good bill. Thanks. All right. And to the committee And back to the sponsor.

9. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:44:52

   To sum, I'll waive still, uh, and to the maker of the motion I waive.

10. Committee chair (presiding)1:44:57

    All right. Motion is though We recommend Favor Rule House Bill 4 32. Egg Amendments. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. And those against, uh, pass unanimously. Thank you, representative. Thank you. Committee.

11. Unknown speaker1:45:10speaker not certain

    That was so exciting. Exciting. We're, we're keeping his mic off. All right. So I'll be on again tonight at nine. All right.

Senate Business and Labor Committee, Feb 27, 2026

House floor, Feb 20, 2026

1. Meeting Clerk1:20:05

   consideration matter. Meeting Clerk House Bill 4 32 Egg Amendments by Representative Shipp. This bill was heard in Business and labor with the vote of 11 0 5.

2. Speaker (presiding)1:20:22

   Representative Clancy Motion To circle. Motion is to circle. All in favor say aye. Aye. The opposed say no. Motion carries. The bill is circled.

House floor, Feb 23, 2026

1. Speaker (presiding)1:17:39

   We'll go ahead and place the motion. The motion before is the house encircle HB 4 32. All in favor, say aye. Any opposed? Roll out motion passes the bills. Uncircled. Representative Schiff.

2. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:17:52

   Thank you Mr. Speaker. I move to adopt amendment number one.

3. Speaker (presiding)1:18:01

   Thank you, Representative Shipp. That motion is in order, like speak to it.

4. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:18:05

   Uh, it just strikes out about four words in it that, uh, has to do with, uh, uh, an end consumer very easily.

5. Speaker (presiding)1:18:14

   Thank you. Representative ship discussion to the motion to adopt amendment number one on HP 4 32 under Representative ship's name seen none. We'll go ahead and place the motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed for that? Motion passes. The bill's been amended and before the body for further consideration. Back to your Representative. Shipp.

6. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:18:37

   Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. HB 4 32 as amended, uh, has to do primarily with large Ag producers, uh, where they need to be licensed with the Department of Ag. Uh, they don't have to be licensed if they're a small producer. Uh, it strictly prohibits the sale of eggs that are addled, moldy, or rotten, so you don't have to worry about that folks. And, uh, also, uh, small producers, uh, can also sell to, uh, end consumers and stores as well as wholesale to restaurants and other institutions. So basically, this is just kind of cleaning up Mr. Speaker, the language, uh, so that, uh, small producers can sell their eggs in the marketplace. And, um, good for any questions from there? Thank you.

7. Speaker (presiding)1:19:34

   Thank you, Representative Shipp discussion to the bill. Representative Albrecht.

8. Rep. Carl R. Albrecht1:19:42

   Yeah. Thank you. Mr. Speaker. Uh, would the sponsor, yield Representative ship?

9. Speaker (presiding)1:19:46

   Will you yield? Aye.

10. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:19:48

    Yeah, I, uh, Representative Albrecht.

11. Rep. Carl R. Albrecht1:19:52

    Mr. Speaker, does this include Turkey eggs or just chicken eggs?

12. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:20:04

    This is just chicken eggs. Representative Albrecht.

13. Rep. Carl R. Albrecht1:20:09

    Okay. I, I know some of the guys that grew up and Joseph actually ate Turkey eggs, but didn't know the difference. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought that were the folks in Wayne County. Mr. Speakers just, I thought that was a question.

14. Speaker (presiding)1:20:24

    Thank you Representative Albrecht. Further discussion to, to the bill Representative Hansen.

15. Rep. Leah Hansen1:20:31

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this is a great bill, but because I promised my constituents that I would not be voting for rulemaking authority, I am going to be voting against the bill. Thank you

16. Speaker (presiding)1:20:43

    Representative Hansen. Further discussion to the bill Representative. Strong.

17. Rep. Stronger Strong1:20:47

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker with the sponsor Yield to a question. Representative Yield?

18. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:20:51

    You bet. Yes. Representative. Strong.

19. Rep. Mark A. Strong1:20:53

    Thank you. Uh, um, will the, the small egg producers be treated similarly to the large egg producers? So there's parody, I mean, I understand there's difference in between small and large, but, um, make sure that they're both kind of jumping over the same bar if they're providing to the same end users.

20. Rep. Rex P. Shipp1:21:13

    Uh, yes. Uh, small producers, however, do not Mr. Speakers, small producers don't have to be licensed. Uh, however, they're, they can compete in the marketplace with the large producers. However, small producers cannot sell their shell eggs outside of the state.

21. Rep. Mark A. Strong1:21:32

    Okay, thank you Mr. Speaker.

22. Speaker (presiding)1:21:35

    Thank you, Representative. Strong further discussion to the bill. None. Back to your Representative Shipp for summation, I'll waive summation has been waived. Voting now be open on HB 4 32. Seeing all President having voted voting is now closed. HB 4 32 passes this body with 65 yes votes, five no votes will be sent to the Senate for its consideration.

23. Speaker (presiding)1:24:12

    Let's go to Representative Wilcox. Representative Wilcox.