Iowa ‘Ag-Gag’ Laws Deemed Constitutional by Eighth Circuit

Iowa “ag-gag” laws that criminalize undercover investigations at animal facilities aren’t unconstitutional, the Eighth Circuit ruled Monday, unanimously overturning multiple lower court rulings.

“Ultimately, plaintiffs’ facial challenge fails because the act has a plainly legitimate sweep and it is narrowly tailored to achieve the state’s significant government interests,” a three-judge panel on the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit said regarding one of the laws, which targeted trespass and surveillance.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Inc., and three other groups filed separate suits over the two ag-gag laws. One law threatened ...