North Central PA Times

A bill aimed at safeguarding domestic animals and the food supply from dangerous transmissible diseases has been signed into law. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27), is designed to fortify the future of Pennsylvania's livestock industry.

"I am grateful the governor signed this bill into law today," said Culver. "It is a great step in securing the future of the livestock industry in Pennsylvania."

Culver's Senate Bill 979 was enacted as Act 15 of 2024. This new law empowers the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to mandate retailers to display information about hazardous communicable diseases at locations where domestic animals and feed are sold to the public.

"Biosecurity is important and spreading information is one of the strongest measures we can take to attempt to mitigate the spread of diseases," Culver explained. "This law will allow the Department of Agriculture to get important information out to small livestock operations that otherwise may not know of an outbreak near them."

The passage of this law comes at a critical time as avian influenza is currently spreading among cattle across the nation. However, no instances have been reported in Pennsylvania thus far.

For more information about Sen. Culver, visit SenatorCulver.com or follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenCulver and Instagram at Instagram.com/SenatorCulver for updates about legislative action in Harrisburg and news in the 27th District.