Raw Milk Law Timeline
Every US state law that legalized, widened or formalized access to raw milk since 2004, with the bill and source behind each change.
- 44 of 51 US states and DC allow some legal access today
- 12 states legalized raw milk since 2004
- 52 law changes in 35 states
- 2005
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Colorado: Herdshares legalized #
Consumers with an ownership interest in a cow, goat or herd may obtain its raw milk.
SB05-055 C.R.S. 25-5.5-117
- 2006
-
Washington: Cow shares require a license #
Cow share agreements count as sales and need a milk producer license; unlicensed raw milk sales became a felony.
SB 6377 (2006) Washington SB 6377 session law
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Ohio: Court blocks license revocation over herdshares #
A county court overturned the state's revocation of a dairy's license over herdshare milk; herdshares have operated in Ohio since.
Schmitmeyer v. Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, Case 06-CV-63277 The Daily Standard (Celina, Ohio), October 10, 2006
- 2007
-
Utah: Producer-owned retail stores allowed #
Producers may sell raw milk at stores they own; the same act prohibited cow-share programs.
HB 311 (2007) Utah HB 311, enrolled
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California: Coliform standard for retail raw milk #
Retail raw milk must test at or below 10 coliforms per mL from January 1, 2008; repeated failures suspend sales.
AB 1735 (2007) Food and Agricultural Code 35891
- 2008
-
South Carolina: Raw milk rules rewritten, retail sales allowed #
Rewritten raw milk rules set permits, testing and labeling, and allow permitted raw milk in retail stores.
Regulation 61-34 (2008 amendments) South Carolina State Register, Vol. 32, Issue 6
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North Carolina: Pet milk dye rule overturned #
Lawmakers overturned a rule requiring dye in raw milk sold as animal feed and set labeling rules instead.
HB 2524, Session Law 2008-88 NC Session Law 2008-88
- 2009
-
New Hampshire: Raw milk yogurt sales #
Producers may sell yogurt made with raw milk directly when it is labeled as made with raw milk.
HB 635 (2009); RSA 184:30-a RSA 184:30-a
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Connecticut: Unlicensed raw milk limited to the family #
Unlicensed dairies could produce raw milk only for their own family, which ended unlicensed herdshares.
Public Act 09-229 (SB 891) Connecticut Public Act 09-229
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Tennessee: Herdshares legalized #
Independent or partial owners of a hoofed mammal may use its milk for personal consumption.
Tenn. Code Ann. 53-3-119 Tennessee AG Opinion 12-04
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Vermont: Two-tier sales with delivery #
Larger registered farms may sell up to 350 gallons a week and deliver to homes and farmers markets.
H.125, Act 62 (2009) Vermont Legislature, H.125
- 2010
-
Massachusetts: Cow shares treated as sales #
Cow and herd share payments count as raw milk sales, so participating farms need a state certificate of registration.
MDAR Interpretation 2010-1 (330 CMR 27.00) Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
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Idaho: Raw milk permit rules #
State rules set herdshare, small herd and unlimited raw milk permits with testing standards.
IDAPA 02.04.13 Idaho raw milk rules
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Wisconsin: On-farm sales bill vetoed #
The legislature passed on-farm raw milk sales under a state permit; the governor vetoed the bill.
SB 434 (2009 to 2010 session) Wisconsin Legislature, 2009 SB 434
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South Dakota: Raw milk sales rules #
State rules set permits, testing and farm inspection for raw milk sold for human consumption.
ARSD 12:81 South Dakota Administrative Rules 12:81
- 2011
-
Pennsylvania: Raw milk permit rules updated #
Milk sanitation rules consolidated and updated the standards for permitted raw milk for human consumption.
7 Pa. Code Chapter 59a 7 Pa. Code Chapter 59a
- 2012
-
New Hampshire: License exemption for small producers #
Producers of under 20 gallons a day may sell raw milk and raw milk products direct without a license.
HB 1402, Chapter 163 (2012) RSA 184:84
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Wyoming: Herdshares allowed by rule #
Amended food safety rules allowed raw milk from shared animal ownership, signed by the governor.
Wyoming Dept. of Agriculture food safety rules (2012) Wyoming Public Media
- 2013
-
Arkansas: On-farm cow milk sales #
Farms may sell up to 500 gallons of raw cow milk a month on the farm, adding to existing goat milk sales.
HB 1536, Act 1209 (2013) Arkansas Legislature, HB 1536 (2013)
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Michigan: Herdshares recognized by agency policy #
The state agriculture department recognized herdshares and does not license or inspect them.
MDARD Policy 1.40 Whitehead and Lake 2018, citing MDARD Policy 1.40
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North Dakota: Herdshares legalized #
Shared animal ownership agreements became lawful, and rules restricting them were barred.
SB 2072 (2013) North Dakota SB 2072
- 2014
-
Vermont: Delivery at farmers markets #
Producers may deliver raw milk to customers at farmers markets where they are vendors.
S.70, Act 149 (2014) Vermont Legislature, S.70
- 2015
-
Wyoming: Wyoming Food Freedom Act #
Producers may sell raw milk and other homemade foods directly to informed end consumers.
HB0056 (2015) Wyoming HB0056 digest
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Oregon: Advertising ban repealed #
Farms selling raw milk on site may advertise from 2016; the state had stopped enforcing the ban in 2014.
HB 2446, 2015 Or. Laws c.58 Oregon Laws 2015, chapter 58
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Connecticut: Herdshares authorized #
Raw milk may be shared among parties to a shared animal ownership agreement.
Public Act 15-101 (SB 360) Connecticut Public Act 15-101
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Maryland: Raw pet milk registered #
The first raw milk registration as pet food; pet food rules followed in 2017.
COMAR 15.18.09 Maryland pet food regulations
- 2016
-
West Virginia: Herdshares legalized #
Shared animal ownership agreements for raw milk became legal, effective May 2016.
SB 387 (2016) West Virginia SB 387, signed
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Illinois: Raw milk permits #
Informal on-farm sales became a raw milk permit system with testing requirements.
77 Ill. Adm. Code 775.55 Illinois Administrative Code
- 2018
-
North Carolina: Herdshares legalized #
The Farm Act of 2018 legalized herdshares; the legislature overrode the governor's veto.
S711, Session Law 2018-113 NC Farm Act of 2018 summary
- 2019
-
Kansas: Advertising ban ended by court judgment #
A consent judgment held the 1967 ban on advertising raw milk unconstitutional, so farms may advertise.
K.S.A. 65-771(cc); Shawnee County District Court Kansas Department of Agriculture
- 2020
-
Wyoming: Food Freedom Act expanded #
Amendments widened who may sell under the Food Freedom Act and where food may be consumed.
HB 84 (2020) Wyoming HB 84, engrossed
- 2021
-
Montana: Montana Local Food Choice Act #
Small dairies (up to 5 cows, 10 goats or 10 sheep) may sell raw milk to informed consumers.
SB 199 (2021) Montana Department of Livestock guidance
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Texas: Statewide delivery #
Health department rules let permitted raw milk dairies deliver to a location agreed with the customer anywhere in the state.
25 TAC 217.23 and 217.27 (46 TexReg 3136) Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 217
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Maine: Right to Food added to the constitution #
Voters added a right to grow, raise, produce and consume food of one's own choosing to the state constitution.
Maine Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 25 Maine Legislature resolution
- 2022
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New Hampshire: Raw milk ice cream and frozen yogurt #
Small exempt producers may also sell raw milk ice cream and frozen yogurt in small containers.
HB 95 (2021 session) New Hampshire HB 95 Read the article
- 2023
-
Washington: Direct-to-consumer sales bill #
A bill proposed direct-to-consumer raw milk sales alongside a higher cottage food cap.
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Idaho: Herdshares legalized #
Herdshares became legal and some raw milk restrictions were lifted.
SB 1036 (2023) National Agricultural Law Center
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Alaska: Retail and farm sales #
Registered farms and stores may sell raw milk and raw milk products.
18 AAC 32.070 Alaska DEC raw milk regulation
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North Dakota: On-farm sales legalized #
Producers may sell raw milk directly to end consumers on the farm.
HB 1515 (2023) North Dakota HB 1515 Read the article
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Iowa: On-farm sales legalized #
Dairies with up to 10 animals may sell raw milk on the farm, effective July 1, 2023.
SF 315 (2023) Iowa SF 315, enrolled Read the article
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Wyoming: Dairy added to the Food Freedom Act #
Dairy products and eggs were expressly allowed, and designated agents may sell for producers.
SF 102, Enrolled Act 51 (2023) Wyoming SF 102, enrolled
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Georgia: Georgia Raw Dairy Act #
Permitted farms may sell and deliver raw milk for human consumption, signed in 2022.
HB 1175 (2022) Georgia HB 1175, signed
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Albuquerque, New Mexico: Albuquerque allows raw milk in stores #
The city allowed raw milk and raw milk products in grocery stores and markets, later folded into its 2024 food rules.
Albuquerque Raw Milk Ordinance City of Albuquerque Read the article
- 2024
-
Mississippi: Herd owner personal use bill #
A bill to protect partial owners using milk from their own goats, cows or sheep died in committee.
HB 685 (2024) Mississippi Legislature, HB 685
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West Virginia: Raw milk sales legalized #
Labeled raw milk sales became legal, effective June 7, 2024, without the governor's signature.
HB 4911 (2024) West Virginia HB 4911, signed Read the article
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Pennsylvania: Product list bill #
A bill proposed expanding the list of raw milk products that may be sold.
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Louisiana: On-farm sales legalized #
On-farm raw milk sales became legal, effective August 1, 2024, with a not-for-human-consumption label.
HB 467 (2024) Louisiana HB 467 Read the article
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Delaware: Consumer Choice Milk Act #
Permitted farms may sell raw milk directly to consumers once state rules are final.
SB 273 (2024) Delaware session law Read the article
- 2025
-
Utah: Testing and outbreak response rules #
Set third-party lab testing for raw milk and steps for responding to suspected outbreaks.
HB 414 (2025) Utah HB 414, enrolled Read the article
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Minnesota: Registered small producer bills #
Companion bills proposed letting registered small farms sell bottled raw milk and raw milk products.
HF 537 / SF 490 (2025 to 2026) Minnesota Legislature, HF 537
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Arkansas: Farmers markets and delivery #
Raw goat, sheep and cow milk may be sold at farmers markets and delivered to customers.
HB 1048, Act 125 (2025) Penn State Agricultural Law Center Read the article
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North Carolina: Bipartisan sales bill #
A bipartisan bill proposed legalizing raw milk sales.
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Arkansas: Off-farm sales #
Raw milk may be sold at locations other than the farm where it was produced.
SB 464, Act 698 (2025) Arkansas SB 464 Read the article
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North Dakota: Raw milk products legalized #
Cream, cheese, yogurt and other raw milk products may be sold directly to consumers.
HB 1131 (2025) National Agricultural Law Center Read the article
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Michigan: On-farm sales bills #
Bills proposed legalizing on-farm raw milk sales; HB 5217 to 5219 advanced through House committees in 2026.
HB 5217 to 5219 Read the article
- 2026
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Indiana: Advisory on raw milk advertising #
The Board of Animal Health restated that raw milk may not be sold or advertised for human consumption.
Indiana BOAH Raw Milk Advisory (March 2026) Indiana Board of Animal Health
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Utah: Raw milk in any inspected store #
Any inspected retail store may sell permitted producers' raw milk, ending the 51% producer-ownership rule.
HB 179 (2026) Utah HB 179 Read the article
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Oklahoma: Sales cap raised, advertising allowed #
The monthly on-farm sales cap rose from 100 to 1,500 gallons, and producers may advertise.
SB 2028 (2026) Oklahoma Senate Read the article
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Pennsylvania: Raw milk butter permits #
Raw milk permit holders may add a permit to sell raw milk butter, with testing and labeling rules.
7 Pa. Code Chapter 59a (2026 amendments) Pennsylvania Bulletin, Doc. No. 26-722a
- Today: 44 of 51
Legal access over time
View caption
Legal access means any lawful pathway: retail, on-farm sales, delivery, herdshares or pet food sales. Today's count matches the law pages; earlier years remove each legalization below. The 2004 baseline of 32 follows Whitehead and Lake (2018).
View data
| Year | Of 51 jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 33 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 34 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 35 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2012 | 36 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2016 | 40 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 40 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2021 | 41 |
| 2022 | 41 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 44 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 | 44 |
Frequently asked questions
How many US states allow raw milk?
44 of 51 US jurisdictions (the 50 states plus DC) allow some legal access to raw milk, through retail stores, on-farm sales, delivery, herdshares or pet food sales.
How many states have legalized raw milk since 2004?
12 states went from no legal pathway to at least one since 2004: Colorado (2005), Ohio (2006), Tennessee (2009), Wyoming (2012), Michigan (2013), North Dakota (2013), Maryland (2015), West Virginia (2016), Montana (2021), Iowa (2023), Louisiana (2024) and Delaware (2024).
What is the most recent change to a state raw milk law?
The most recent change on the timeline is Pennsylvania, May 23, 2026: Raw milk permit holders may add a permit to sell raw milk butter, with testing and labeling rules (7 Pa. Code Chapter 59a (2026 amendments)).
About this timeline
Dates are when a bill was signed or a rule took effect; where those differ, the summary gives the effective date. Legalized means a state went from no legal pathway to at least one. Widened means more pathways, products or volume where some access already existed. Formalized means an informal practice became a permit or rule.
Events from 2004 to 2017 build on the state-by-year coding in Whitehead and Lake (2018), checked against each bill or rule. Proposed bills are shown for context and are not counted.
See also: Raw milk laws by state and country, raw milk statistics