Is raw milk getting a raw deal in the California legislature? Some natural dairy advocates think so, and are hoping to turn things around with a new bill that is getting its first major hearing this week.

On June 24th, the Assembly Agriculture Committee of California held that hearing in Sacramento on SB 201, an urgency bill is sponsored by Senator Florez, Senator Perata and Assemblymember Berryhill. The bill is in response to AB 1735 which had imposed higher regulations on raw milk products effective last January. SB 201 requires dairies to conduct biweekly testing, provide training for their employees, and create a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan that must be approved by the Department of Food and Agriculture and State Department of Public Health.