Oppose: Ag-Gag Bill to Prohibit Photography (Kentucky)

The Animal Legal Defense Fund opposes this bill.

Sponsors: State Sens. John Schickel (R-11), Rick Girdler (R-15), Brandon J. Storm (R-21), and Robin L. Webb (D-18)
Introduction Date: January 2, 2024

Kentucky lawmakers just passed a harmful Ag-Gag bill, S.B. 16, that would prevent whistleblowers and undercover investigators from exposing animal cruelty within a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), also commonly known as a factory farm. If enacted, S.B. 16 would make it a crime to operate a drone or other photography equipment over a CAFO or take any form of photography within a CAFO without the consent of the facility’s owner.

As the name suggests, Ag-Gag laws seek to “gag” would-be whistleblowers and undercover investigators by punishing them for recording footage of what goes on outside of public view in the animal agriculture industry. These unconstitutional laws are deliberate attempts to hide animal cruelty — as well as food safety, workers’ rights, and environmental violations — from the American public.

Why is this law important? The ability to investigate, document, and publicize corporate agriculture’s abuses is not only critical to protecting the well-being of animals, but also human health, worker safety, and the environment.

For more information about animal protection legislation in Kentucky and opportunities to take action for animals, visit aldf.org/kentucky.