HB 587 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for commercial haulers and brokers of animal and food processing residuals; and imposing penalties.

HB 587 amends Pennsylvania's agriculture laws to establish regulations for businesses that transport waste from animal and food processing (referred to as "residuals" in the bill). The bill requires commercial haulers and brokers to follow specific handling and transportation standards for these materials and imposes fines for non-compliance. This directly affects companies that move agricultural waste, aiming to improve safety and environmental management through clear, enforceable rules.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Oct 2025
House Passage
Oct 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Oct 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1467 Printer's No. PN2390 · 7 edits
MODERATE
This bill was substantially rewritten to modernize its structure and expand its scope. The text now explicitly includes 'animal processing residuals' alongside food processing residuals, broadening the types of waste covered. It also adds a temporary rulemaking authority to allow the Department of Agriculture to issue regulations quickly before the final rules are ready.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include animal processing residuals (from slaughterhouses) in addition to food processing residuals (from manufacturing). It also added a new chapter structure to the statutes and included the Agricultural Advisory Board in the certification process.
SCOPE

Explicitly added 'animal processing residuals' to the definitions and requirements, ensuring the law covers waste from slaughterhouses and meat processing, not just food manufacturing.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section granting the Department of Agriculture temporary authority to issue regulations immediately to facilitate the program's launch.

Added the Agricultural Advisory Board as a required consultant for the certification program, alongside the State Conservation Commission.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Food processing residuals' to be more specific about the types of commodities processed (fruits, vegetables, crops).

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for the certification program requirements from 18 months to a specific future date of January 1, 2027, while other parts of the act take effect immediately or in 60 days.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that the Department of Environmental Protection, not the Department of Agriculture, is responsible for enforcing violations of the Solid Waste Management Act.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the entire bill text to follow standard statutory format with numbered sections (1301-1311) rather than the previous narrative style.

Floor votes · House Oct 6, 2025

How they voted

1967
Passed
Total votes 203
Oct 6, 2025
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican101
94 Yea 7 Nay
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Oct 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs
upper
Oct 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Oct 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Oct 1, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs
lower
1 primary · 22 co-sponsors

Sponsors