This harmful legislation includes bills (HB 113 and HB 175) that would abolish county ordinances that protect against abuses by large industrialized factory farms often referred to as CAFOs. HB 71 seeks to eliminate the authority of the Clean Water Commission in regulating CAFOs and would allow large out-of-state CAFOs to operate shell corporations in Missouri so they would not be held accountable for abuses associated with their factory farms. 

Senate Bill 76 (SB 76) would protect CAFOs from lawsuits for air, water and waste pollution. Not only are CAFOs seeking protections against lawsuits, but they are also seeking (HB 114) to make it easier for CAFOs to file lawsuits against anyone who would criticize their harmful practices. 

While House Bill 114 (HB 114) aims to silence critics of CAFOs via the threat of lawsuits, HB 114 would at the same time exempt from lawsuits, any food processor, distributor and seller that would intentionally lie about how their food is produced. HB 114 permits food sellers to falsely label and market "agricultural product in a manner that indicates that the product was grown or produced by using or not using a chemical or drug; was organically grown; or was grown without the use of any synthetic additive."

One attorney commented that HB 114 should be known as the "License to Lie Act".

PLEASE ASK YOUR STATE SENATOR TO OPPOSE ALL LEGISLATION THAT ELIMINATES PROTECTIONS FOR FARM ANIMALS!

To learn more about all of the above legislation as well as legislation impacting animals in the current session of the Missouri Legislature, click here