PA Senate approves bill to exempt milk haulers from travel bans

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania Senate approved on Tuesday legislation that would exempt milk haulers from travel bans imposed during a declaration of disaster emergency.

Senate Bill 153 is sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) and Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) and would allow a licensed milk hauler to transport milk on highways even during weather-related commercial travel bans.

These vehicles would be required to display a decal that would be developed and issued by the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board.

“Travel restrictions can be tools that help to promote public safety, but any such restrictions need to consider unique industries, like the dairy industry,” Ward said. “The dairy industry is truly a 24 hours-per-day, seven-days-per-week, 365 days-a-year operation involving a highly perishable product – raw milk – and the laws and regulations governing it need to reflect this reality. We need to pass common-sense legislation that makes it easier, not harder, for our dairy farmers to continue farming and providing our food supply with high-quality milk product.”

The bill was introduced after dairy producers and processors spoke up about having to dispose of milk due to weather-related commercial vehicle travel bans, rather than have it transported to market.

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The bill was approved on Oct. 1 and now heads to the House of Representatives.

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