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Panel OKs codifying animal- and pet-feed rules into statute at Purdue office's request
Summary
The committee approved Senate Bill 249, which moves animal-feed and pet-food provisions from administrative rules into statute to align state code with the 2026 AAFCO standards; witnesses from Purdue's Office of the State Chemist and industry groups supported the measure.
Senate Bill 249, sponsored from the Senate by Senator Leising at the request of the Purdue Office of the State Chemist, was reported out of the House Agriculture Committee after unopposed testimony supporting codification of feed rules into statute.
Senator Leising said the bill codifies animal feeds and pet food provisions that had previously been in administrative rules, and that the change aligns the state code with the 2026 official publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). "What it is doing, it's codifying animal feeds from rules to code," she said, adding the administration favors converting rules to statute in some cases.
Kendra Leatherman, director of government relations for Purdue University speaking for the Office of the State Chemist, said placing rules in law reflects executive-order and statutory guidance on administrative rules and described the office's longstanding role regulating pesticides, fertilizers, seed and feed.
Chris Heizer, a farm-raised testifier speaking in favor on his own behalf and later as a lobbyist for agribusiness, praised the office's role in consumer safety and supported the bill as part of maintaining regulatory oversight.
The committee moved to "do pass" and recorded unanimous committee support in the roll call (recorded as 10–0). The sponsor urged expedited consideration given the lack of opposition.
