HB2724 Summary

• Establishes minimum usable floor space requirements for egg-laying hens: one square foot per hen effective December 31, 2020, increasing to either one square foot (vertical-access systems) or 1.5 square feet (single-level systems) effective December 31, 2024.

• Prohibits confinement of egg-laying hens in cage systems (battery cages, colony cages, enriched cages, etc.) beginning December 31, 2024, requiring cage-free housing systems instead.

• Prohibits sale or transport of shell eggs and egg products in Arizona from December 31, 2020 onward if they come from hens confined in violation of the spacing and housing standards.

• Exempts farms with annual production of 3,000 or fewer egg-laying hens from the requirements and provides exceptions for medical research, veterinary treatment, transportation, fair exhibitions, and temporary confinement up to specified periods.

• Establishes enforcement authority with the Arizona Department of Agriculture director, including inspection powers, certification requirements, and civil penalties of $100-$500 per violation.