LANSING, Mich. – Hens across Michigan just won their freedom, thanks to a new bill signed Thursday by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.
Senate Bill 174, sponsored by Senator Kevin Daley, ensures that all egg-laying hens in Michigan will be in cage-free systems and no non-cage free eggs will be legally allowed to be sold by December 2024.
“Michigan is know for having one of the most diverse agricultural and farming industries in the nation,” Gilchrist said. “Signing this bill is the right thing to do. This will ensure that our standards are amongst the strongest in the nation when it comes to protecting animal welfare, while ensuring that egg producers are able to continue to thrive.”
Daley represents Bay, Lapeer, and Tuscola counties and was previously chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Michigan is now the fifth state and the largest egg-producing state in the country to enact a cage-free requirement. Other cage-free states include California, Washington, Oregon and Rhode Island.
“We’re grateful for the tremendous work of the lieutenant governor’s office in advancing the treatment of egg-laying hens” said Molly Tamulevich, Michigan state director of the Humane Society of the United States. “Switching to cage-free production methods will dramatically improve the lives of millions of animals per year.”
The bill was unanimously passed by both chambers of the Michigan Legislature and will take effect 90 days after enactment.