2012, 1st try:
The bill, House File 589, now on Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s desk, is all but certain to be signed into law, and it will be the first “ag-gag” law in America, says Nathan Runkle, executive director of Chicago-based Mercy for Animals (MFA), an animal rights group that has been active in Iowa.
2019, 2nd try:
In March, Iowa lawmakers enacted their second Ag-Gag law, which creates the new crime of “agricultural production facility trespass” — making it illegal for a person to gain access to an agricultural production facility through deception if the person intends to cause an “injury” to the “business interest” of the facility. Because exposing horrific abuses, such as slamming piglets into concrete floors and confining animals in cages so small that they cannot stand up or turn around, inevitably damages a business’ reputation, the second Ag-Gag law unmistakably targets undercover and whistleblower investigations, a blatant attempt to circumvent the federal court’s previous ruling and unconstitutionally stifle free speech.
2020, 3rd try:
The bill has been passed.
A first-time trespasser would now face up to two years of incarceration and a fine of up to $6,250. If they entered a farm without authorization a second time, they could be charged with a felony carrying up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $7,500.
During a discussion of the bill on Friday, Rozenboom said that it is meant to “address the gravest threats to animal agriculture in Iowa today.” He went on to describe a new endeavor by animal rights activists called Project Counterglow. The centerpiece of the project, as The Intercept has reported, is a map with the locations of more than 27,000 farms and animal agriculture facilities.