Utah Faces Ag-Gag Bill

This week, a bill is moving to the Senate that would make covert filming on farms, dairies, and ranches a misdemeanor in the state of Utah. The bill, which passed the House in a 60-14 vote last week, is designed to protect agricultural businesses from “national propaganda groups” threatening to shut down operations, says its sponsor, House Rep. John Mathis. Animal-welfare organizations have been staunch opponents of the proposed law since its inception, viewing it as a hurdle in the fight against animal abuse on factory farms. Suzanne McMillan, director of farm-animal welfare at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, tells the Associated Press, “Americans deserve to know how their food is produced, and responsible farmers should welcome that transparency.”