Agriculture & Rural Affairs 2023-2024

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met on Monday, November 13, 2023 to considered the following bills:

Unless noted, all were passed unanimously by a 11-0 vote.

SB 979 (Sen. Culver): Amends Title 3 (Agriculture) Ch. 23 (Domestic Animals), providing for posted notice with information on dangerous transmissible diseases.

HB 1540 (Rep. Parker): Changes the due date for the annual report of the Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence and addresses the way vacancies are filled.

              *A02933 (Sen. Vogel):  clarifies that vacancies are nominated from a list submitted

HB 1661 (Rep. Metzger):  Amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to define xylazine, and provide for prohibited uses with veterinary use exemptions.

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met on Monday, October 23, 2023 to considered the following bills:

Both were passed unanimously by a 11-0 vote.

HB 295 (Rep. Rabb):  Amends the Soil and Plant Amendment Act to realign the product registration process and tonnage reporting with that of fertilizer.

HB 1170 (Rep. Sappey):  Renames the Milk Marketing Board to the Pennsylvania Milk Board

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs and Game & Fisheries Committees held a joint hearing on Monday, October 23, 2023 to discuss crop damage with the PFB and the PGC:


The Senate and House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee held a joint hearing on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 on the 2023 Federal Farm Bill


The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 to considered the following bills:

Unless noted, all were passed unanimously by a 11-0 vote.

HB 156 (Rep. Pashinski): Makes technical corrections to Title 3 (Agriculture) in Chapter 68 (Fertilizer law)

HB 157 (Rep. Pashinski/Rep. Madden): Establishes the PA Preferred® Organic Program within the PA Department of Agriculture

SB 746 (Sen. Vogel): amends the Dog Law providing updates in kennel fees and licensing.

A00817 (Sen. Vogel) : restores an exemption that currently exists under Section 212 for dogs in the state temporarily

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee held a meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 and voted unanimously to favorably move the nomination of Acting Secretary Russell Redding to the Senate for consideration.

The committee also considered the bills below.  Unless noted, all were passed unanimously by a 11-0 vote.

SB 152 (Sen J. Ward) – Repeals the Frozen Dessert Law of 1965.

SB 277 (Sen Yaw ) – Amends the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act of 1987 to restructure the board of directors for the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

SB 694 ( Sen Farry ) –  Amends title 3 Agriculture as it pertains to the sale of fireworks.