Category Archives: Local and State Legislation

Livestock coalition marshals forces against extreme animal rights initiative

Journal-Advocate

Proposed ballot initiative 2021-2022 #16, formerly known as the PAUSE Act, has been reviewed by the state’s title board and a title has been set.

The role of the title board is to set a clearly worded title that reflects the proponents’ intentions after determining that it meets the requirement of containing a single subject word of law. At the initial hearing, the title board does not and did not hear objections to the content or title language, and the board does not analyze the merit of the initiative.

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PAUSE: Ballot initiative to criminalize husbandry practices would cost consumers, limit food availability

Fence Post

A ballot initiative proposed, currently known as Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation (PAUSE), is awaiting an appearance before the title board after being filed with the Colorado Secretary of State. Proponents Alexander Sage of Broomfield, and Brent Johannes of Boulder, penned the proposed changes to the criminal cruelty to animal statutes. As written, the ballot initiative would include livestock and would criminalize some actions that are currently accepted animal husbandry practices.
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Washington State Action Alert


THIS BILL NEEDS TO BE WIDELY CHALLENGED, PLEASE TAKE ACTION – ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN WASHINGTON STATE.

House Bill 2824 will ban certain animals at “any exhibition, public showing, presentation, display, exposition, fair, animal act, circus, ride, trade show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race, or similar undertaking…
“HB2824 is sponsored by Representatives Appleton, Walen, and Pollet. It was referred to the House Public Safety Committee. Currently the bill excludes domestic horses and cattle but that could easily be amended in the future and includes many other species.
Text of bill: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2824.pdf?q=20200124092600&fbclid=IwAR0oX4BSqdFoJ215XFFrn8IZ2msrWS9js2TfnW-7Zh6GGC2gIwiYNiuWof4

As introduced, it includes the species and any hybrids below:(I) ARTIODACTYLA, excluding domestic cattle, bison, American buffalo, water buffalo, yak, zebu, gayal, bali cattle, suidae, sheep, llamas, or alpacas;
(II) CAMELIDAE;
(III) CANIDAE, including any hybrids thereof, but excluding domestic dogs;
(IV) CROCODILIA;
(V) ELASMOBRANCHII;
(VI) ELEPHANTIDAE;
(VII) FELIDAE, including any hybrids thereof, but excluding domestic cats;
(VIII) MARSUPIALIA;
(IX) NONHUMAN PRIMATE;
(X) PERISSODACTYLA, excluding domestic horses, ponies, donkeys, or mules;
(XI) PINNIPEDIA; and
(XII) URSIDAE.The only exemption applies to a program “that takes place at a nonmobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility.”The bill has been referred to the Committee on Public Safety.Email list: Sherry.Appleton@leg.wa.gov, Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov, Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov, Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov, Lauren.Davis@leg.wa.gov, Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov, Robert.Sutherland@leg.wa.gov, Jenny.Graham@leg.wa.gov, Dan.Griffey@leg.wa.gov, John.Lovick@leg.wa.gov, Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov, Mike.Pellicciotti@leg.wa.gov, Eric.Pettigrew@leg.wa.gov

Link to Committee information:
http://leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/PS/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1f-6j8ofE_0hJdEvfZtJ-8ILjh-_5wjNDtpygojsF3K9TTW1sTNhlAiYY

Points to include in your messaging:
• I oppose House Bill 2824. Washington already has extensive animal cruelty laws including Chapter 16.52 RCW titled Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• Current laws are adequate to protect animals in Washington State and should be enforced;
• This bill will have far-reaching, unintended consequences and hurt many animal industries in Washington State – taking away citizen’s rights to enjoy many activities involving animals;
• Reject the propaganda advanced by animal extremists who wish to ban the use of animals in industry, sport and recreation and listen to the experts who interact with these animals on a daily basis.

Fast-Moving ‘Agricultural Security’ Bill Moves to Floor of Idaho Senate

Food Safety News

A legislative committee on Tuesday sent a bill to the floor of the Idaho Senate for a vote over whether to jail and fine anyone found guilty of a new crime of interference with agricultural production.

After some bill shuffling, the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee sent Senate Bill 1337, just introduced Monday, straight to the floor, but not the nearly identical Senate Bill 1298. SB 1337 excludes farmer’s markets and farm trucking from the protections it provides to other activities as “agricultural production.”

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AG paid 1 consultant $13,375 in horse-slaughter lawsuit

Some say government does not create jobs.

At least one consultant might disagree.

William Olson was hired as an expert in a politically popular lawsuit brought by  state Attorney General Gary King against a proposed horse-slaughter plant near Roswell.

Olson received more than $13,375 in public money for helping prepare King’s assistant attorneys general for the case, and for testifying against the slaughterhouse. Olson’s rate of pay was $80 an hour, according to payment records we obtained this week.

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Are horses livestock? DNR weighs question, considers horse-slaughter permit

News-Leader

WASHINGTON — The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will help determine the fate of a proposed horse slaughter plant later this month, as state officials weigh a permit application that would allow the facility to begin processing equines in Gallatin.

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