SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1553
As Passed Senate, April 2, 2025
Title: An act relating to extending the dairy inspection program until June 30, 2031.
Brief Description: Extending the dairy inspection program until June 30, 2031.
Sponsors: Representatives Richards, Dent, Hackney, Bernbaum, Kloba and Springer.
Brief History: Passed House: 3/5/25, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Agriculture & Natural Resources: 3/20/25 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 4/2/25, 49-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Extends the expiration date for the assessment on milk processed in the state from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Chapman, Chair; Krishnadasan, Vice Chair; Short, Ranking Member; Liias, Muzzall, Saldaña, Schoesler, Shewmake and Wagoner.
Staff: Elena Becker (786-7493)
Background:

To ship fluid milk and milk products across state lines, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) administers a Milk Inspection Program to maintain compliance with the Grade A Interstate Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) published by the United States Public Health Service, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the United States Food and Drug Administration. The PMO is the national standard for milk sanitation, and it requires milk processing plants to be inspected at least once every three months.

 

Current law provides for a milk assessment to be levied on the first milk processing plant that receives milk for processing. The assessment is paid to a Dairy Inspection Account under the Agricultural Local Fund, and the funds are used only for dairy inspection services under WSDA's Food Safety Program. The assessment may not exceed $0.0054 per hundredweight and milk processing plants whose monthly assessment for receipt of milk totals less than $20 in a given month are exempt from the assessment for that month. The assessment expires on June 30, 2025. 
Summary of Bill:

The expiration date for the assessment on milk processed in the state is extended from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2025.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying:

N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying:

N/A