The March 14 passing of a bill that would prosecute those who get jobs at farms solely for the purpose of conducting undercover reports on animal living conditions has been challenged in the state courts. On Monday, the lawsuit against the State of Iowa was filed in Des Moines by the Animal Legal Defense Fund in conjunction with four other advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The suit alleges the new law is a violation of the constitutional rights of free speech and due process. Monday afternoon, Iowa Gov., Kim Reynolds, released a statement regarding the filing against the Ag Trespass bill. She says they are working with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to uphold the law. “The Ag Trespass bill is designed to protect Iowa farmers from safety threats or biosecurity risks that untrained people on their property may cause,” Reynolds says. “I am committed to protecting Iowa farmers and ensuring the safety and security of their livestock.”
