With Iowa’s controversial “ag gag” law on appeal in the courts, lawmakers are considering a narrower bill that would create a special trespassing crime for agricultural facilities. Supporters say the law is necessary to protect farmers from people who intend to hurt their industry while opponents say it harms free speech.
If the bill becomes law, it would be a crime to use deception to gain access to an agricultural production facility that is not open to the public “with the intent to cause physical or economic harm or other injury” to the facility’s operations, animals, personnel, business interests or customers. Read more