The Iowa House has approved a bill that calls for prison sentences of up to 10 years for people caught going into a livestock confinement to take pictures or video of the animals and those who're caring for the livestock. Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment...
Governor expected to sign new bill on ag trespassing, court challenge expected
A bill that criminalizes certain types of trespassing on agricultural properties has passed the Iowa legislature and now awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature. Drew Mogler, the public policy director at the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says it creates new...
Another bid to curb undercover surveillance of Iowa ag operations
The Iowa House has voted to establish new penalties for those found guilty of trespassing to set up electronic surveillance equipment on someone else's property to secretly capture images or video. For nearly a decade, Iowa legislators have been trying to enhance...
Ethics complaint over senator’s ag bill vote dismissed
A legislative panel has rejected a complaint that accused an Oskaloosa farmer of having a conflict of interest on an ag-related bill that is now state law. Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom worked on the legislation and publicly urged other senators to support the bill...
Lawmakers take second run at outlawing undercover operations on Iowa farms
Lawmakers are considering a second attempt to penalize people who get an Iowa farm job in order to make undercover videos or harm the animals. Republican Representative Jarad Klein, a farmer from Keota, said the livestock industry is the "life blood" of Iowa's economy...
Ernst’s bill to ‘defund’ Planned Parenthood fails to clear Senate hurdle
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst's bill to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood failed on procedural grounds Monday evening. Fifty-three senators voted to bring the bill up for consideration, but that was seven votes short of what was needed to overcome a filibuster by...
Animal rights groups protest “Ag gag” bill
Animal rights activists gathered outside the state capital Thursday to protest a bill that would criminalize the actions of activists who go "undercover" at large farms. About 30 people held signs with pictures of abused farm animals. They were also dressed in black,...
Legislature cracks down on undercover stings in livestock confinements (audio)
The Iowa legislature has voted to establish new penalties for people caught getting a job at a livestock confinement or on a farm in order to go undercover or to disrupt the operation in some way. AUDIO of senate's 52-minute debate of the bill earlier this afternoon. ...
Group releases undercover video of livestock abuse in Iowa
An animal rights group today released undercover video depicting livestock abuse at an operation owned by the state's largest pork producer. Nathan Runkle, executive director of Mercy for Animals, says the footage was collected over three months at an Iowa Select...
New protections for farms, packing plants may survive legal challenge
The president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association says legal experts are confident the latest agricultural protection legislation to come from the Iowa statehouse will survive any potential new court challenges. Mike Paustian says the change is much needed as it...