Legislation to expand financial protections in the Packers and Stockyards Act to transactions made electronically is headed to the White House after the Senate cleared the measure by unanimous consent last week. The bill would amend the law to include sales made using video or through an online auction house. Chelsea Good, vice president of government and industry affairs with the Livestock Marketing Association says this vote modernizes the nearly 100-year-old Act.

The bill would also specify that funds can be transferred electronically, such as through a debit or credit card. Currently, the law allows only check or wire transfer to settle sales. So she says it accounts for all modern banking methods and technology.

Good says this bill provides some much needed protections for producers, even though many online and video auctions were already doing these practices.

The bill now moves to the president’s desk and while the White House has not issued a position Good is fairly confident in the president’s signature.