Save Our Bacon Act

Summary#

This bill, the "Save Our Bacon Act," says that producers of covered livestock have a federal right to raise and sell those animals and products across state lines. It prevents states or local governments from making rules about how covered livestock are produced, except for animals physically raised in that state. States also cannot require different production standards for products made from livestock that were raised in another state. "Covered livestock" means domestic animals raised for slaughter or for milk products (but not animals raised mainly for eggs). "Production" means raising and breeding animals and does not include moving, slaughtering, or further processing.

What it means for you#

• Producers: The bill would let livestock producers claim a federal right to sell animals and derived products in interstate commerce without facing differing state production rules for out-of-state animals.
• States: States could still set rules for animals raised physically within their borders, but could not apply additional or different production conditions to products from animals raised elsewhere.
• Consumers and buyers: The bill focuses on who can set production standards; it does not describe labeling, safety, or inspection rules in this text.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

Supporters say the bill will protect free movement of livestock products across state lines, encourage a national market, prevent a patchwork of different state rules for producers, and help the United States meet international trade obligations (these goals are stated in the bill's purpose section).

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.