A Wyoming “Food Freedom” bill is about to come to a final vote in the House of Representatives in Cheyenne. It has already survived a first floor vote, having gained approval Friday from the House Committee of the Whole. Wyoming House Bill 56, which also cleared the House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee on an 8-1 vote, would exempt so-called single transactions of food between the producer and any “informed end consumer” from inspections, licensing, and certifications by the state. State Rep. Tyler Lindholm (R-Sundance), sponsor of HB 56, says the bill simply makes something legal that is already happening all across the Cowboy State. He says Wyoming farmers and ranchers are already selling homemade and homegrown foods to their neighbors and that government oversight needn’t be a requirement. “Our locally grown food in the state of Wyoming is currently, by law, on the black market,” Lindholm says. “If you want to buy eggs, if you want to buy milk, if you want to buy jam or anything like that … that is currently illegal.” HB 56 would apply to all homegrown or locally raised products, and the exemption would extend to sales at Farmers Markets. It would also apply to poultry, but not other state inspected meat. Dr. Tracy Murphy, Wyoming state epidemiologist, said there have been 41 illnesses associated with raw milk in Wyoming during the past five years. He said raw milk is much more dangerous than milk that has been subjected to pasteurization. State Rep. Rita Campbell (R-Shoshoni) was the only vote against HB 56 in the ag committee. She said she doubted the state was protected from liability under the bill.