While an Iowa court partially upheld the state’s “ag-gag” law meant to deter animal activists from going undercover at livestock operations, a Kansas court struck the law down.
Iowa’s 2012 law criminalizes entry to operations under false pretenses and lying on employment applications, but it was ruled unconstitutional in a district court in 2019. In an appeal to the ruling, the 8th Circuit Court upheld the district court’s ruling on employment applications but reversed the decision on entry under false pretenses.
In Kansas, the first state to implement an ag-gag law, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled the law violates free speech protections. In a statement, Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells said the ruling was “a victory for animals throughout the state who suffer in secret.” The group is comprised of activists who go undercover in attempts to document animal abuse.
