Agriculture - Confinement of Egg-Laying Hens in Commercial Egg Production - Prohibitions

SB 806 bans the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages and similar systems (like colony or enriched cages) for commercial egg production in Maryland after a specified date. It requires farms to use cage-free housing systems that allow hens to roam freely, access perches and nest boxes, and exhibit natural behaviors. The law applies to all commercial egg producers and sellers, but exempts farms with fewer than 5,000 hens annually. This directly affects Maryland’s commercial egg farms and businesses selling shell eggs or egg products within the state.