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Vermont legislators have given up on passing a law this year mandating labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food, but activists have not given up pressuring them. And around the country, activists and legislators are heartened about the momentum gained in the last year.

Activists point to what they call unprecedented support for action at the federal level, plus attempts at other action in up to 20 states – even though the legislation appears to have stalled or been blocked in most of those states and the Food and Drug Administration is responding at glacial speed.

Senate President John Campbell had said he would accept the bill from the House Agriculture Committee after the March 16 crossover day deadline. Two weeks later, however, the Agriculture Committee still has not agreed on a draft, and it will be taking further testimony, including at a public hearing on April 12. The bill’s proponents now say the bill needs scrutiny for its constitutional merits by the Judiciary Committee before it gets to the House floor, in light of threats of an industry lawsuit over the bill.

Rep. Bill Lippert, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, could not be reached for comment about time available on that committee’s calendar.