The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition involving six states including Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska challenging California’s hen housing requirements. The California law forbids the sale of eggs from laying hens kept in cages too small for them to turn around or spread their wings. National Association of Egg Farmers President Ken Klippen says his groups’ lawyers say the California law violates the U.S. Constitution.

He says California’s hen housing regulations are hurting producers and consumers and as recent research indicates, the chickens as well.

Klippen says because the recent court petition was dismissed without prejudice it means they can retry the issue in court. Currently, they’re considering their next step.

Klippen says if the California law stands, many producers will exit the business.