The Michigan Legislature is in recess for the next two weeks. We will be keeping a close eye on two animal un-friendly bills introduced earlier in March, and will keep you in the loop when action is needed. AFA’s board has voted to oppose both.
SB 0174 is the re-introduction of a bill from last session that was vetoed by Gov. Snyder in December 2018. It overhauls the Animal Industry Act. Disturbingly, it repeals important reforms that would phase out the worst-of-the-worst industrial agriculture practices, battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates. The repeal is being managed in a non-transparent fashion by the bill’s proponents. Advocates are working behind the scenes to oppose this; rest assured, we will keep you updated and advise when we need your action. SB 0174 is assigned to the Senate Agriculture Committee (whose Chair is the primary sponsor of the bill).
HB 4340 is a bill we’ve nicknamed “Ag-gag meets Hunter Harassment.” It would expand Michigan’s existing hunter harassment law to make it a crime to record an individual “lawfully taking an animal or fish with the intent to harass that individual.” HB 4340 is assigned to the House Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee.
Here’s a link to a searchable version of the Tracker.
