Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement members expect House File 775 TO be challenged in court following its passage this week. ICCI State Policy Director Adam Mason calls it an AG GAG LAW and says he thinks it has constitutional problems. He says ICCI is considering their next step although they’ve heard animal rights activist Matthew Johnson who was arrested on trespassing charges at a pork operation will likely be taking the issue to court.
One Iowa Representative said she’s worried HF 775 will have a chilling effect on the First Amendment. Mason shares those thoughts and says his group is concerned about workers being able to document workplace violations at packing plants or ag operations.
He says it will take time for the various courts to unravel all of these issues with these various trespass protection or ag gag laws.
Under 775 knowingly entering private property without the owners consent and taking soil and water samples or samples of an animal’s bodily fluids would become an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense which carries a maximum sentence of up to 2 years in prison. A second offense would be a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
