The Issues

Proposed Legislation and Public Policy

Pending State Legislation

Florida

Title:                  S.B. 1636 – Prohibiting the cruel confinement of certain farm animals
Summary:          Prohibits the use of battery cages and veal crates.
Position:            Support. Learn more.

Title:                  S.B. 1246 – Prohibiting photography or video recording of farms
Summary:          Criminalizes the act of photographing or videotaping farms or other property where agricultural operations are conducted without written consent of property owner.
Position:            Oppose. Learn more.

Hawaii

Title:                 S.B. 2170 – Prohibiting the sale of foie gras
Summary:         Prohibits the sale of any product made from the engorged livers of geese and ducks produced through force feeding.
Position:           Support

Iowa

Title:                  HF 589/SF 431 – Prohibiting photography or video recording of farms
Summary:          Prohibits producing, possessing, or distributing a record of a "visual or audio experience occurring at [an] animal facility."
Position:            Oppose. Learn more.

Maryland

Title:                S.B. 254/H.B. 676 – Creating livestock and poultry care standards board 
Summary:        Creates standards board—comprised mostly of industry representatives—responsible for providing guidance on animal welfare to agriculture department
Position:           Oppose

Massachusetts

Title:                 H.B. 458/S.B. 786 – Prohibiting the cruel confinement of certain farm animals
Summary:         Prohibits the use of gestation crates, veal crates and battery cages.
Position:           Support. Learn more.

Minnesota

Title:                S.F. 1118/H.F. 1369 – Prohibiting Photography or Video Recording of Farms
Summary:       Criminalizes the act of photographing or videotaping activities at animal facilities  
Position:          Oppose. Learn more.

New York

Title:                A1725 – Prohibiting the sale or slaughter of downed animals
Summary:         Will prohibit the sale or slaughter of certain animals who are too sick or injured to walk, including pigs and sheep.
Position:           Support

Title:                 A1928– Prohibiting the cruel confinement of certain farm animals
Summary:         Will phase out the use of gestation crates for breeding sows, veal crates for calves and battery cages for egg laying hens.
Position:           Support

Title:                 A. 1836 – Prohibiting tail docking of cattle
Summary:         Amends current law to prohibit “cut[ting] the bone, tissues, muscles or tendons of the tail” of a cow “for the purpose or with the effect of docking, setting, or otherwise altering the natural carriage of the tail.”
Position:           Support

Washington

Title:                 S.B. 5487 – Establishing Certification Program for Egg-Laying Hens
Summary:         Codifies cruel industry norms by requiring that egg-laying hen operations meet industry-set certification standards based.
Position:           Oppose. Learn more.