The 2012 Minnesota legislative session began on January 24. The bill that would make it a crime to videotape and to show footage shot inside puppy and kitten mills and factory farm was introduced in 2011 and may advance in 2012.
January, 2012- The bills that would make it a crime to videotape and to show footage shot inside puppy and kitten mills and factory farms (SF 1118/HF 1369) were introduced in April 2011. The bills encountered stiff opposition in the media and with the public and did not advance in 2011. Because Minnesota has a two-year legislative session, these bills are still considered alive in 2012. The bills may advance as written, be amended, or other bills with similar intent may be introduced. Sign the online petition to keep humane undercover investigations legal in Minnesota.
Please call your State Senator, your State Representative, and the Governor today, and urge them to OPPOSE Senate File 1118 and House File 1369.
SF 1118 and HF 1369 would criminalize blowing the whistle on animal cruelty, food safety problems, or labor abuses inside puppy and kitten mills or factory farms by making it a crime to take video inside such facilities, or even for the news media to possess or distribute these images. More information on the bills and talking points here. 
The bills prohibit usage of one of the most important tools the humane movement has to reduce and prevent animal suffering- undercover investigations that expose animal cruelty and inhumane conditions and practices that go on behind closed doors in Minnesota. It cannot be overemphasized how dangerous these bills are to the welfare of Minnesota’s animals.
Please call your State Senator, your State Representative, and the Governor today, and urge them to OPPOSE SF 1118 and HF 1369.
Here’s how:
—Enter your address here to find the name, phone number, and email for your State Senator and State Representative
—Governor Dayton may be reached here: 651-201-3400, or by email here.
—When speaking with your State Senator, State Representative and the Governor’s office, you will likely speak with an aide who will relay your message. Sample messages:
Governor Dayton: You can say, “As a constituent of Governor Dayton, I am contacting him to urge opposition to Senate File 1118 and House File 1369, which will make it a crime to videotape or show video from inside puppy and kitten mills and factory farms in Minnesota. Undercover investigations protect the public- the public has an interest in knowing about consumer product safety violations and abuses of animals. To ensure a safe food supply and animal welfare in MN, I urge him to oppose SF 1118/HF 1369. Thank you.”
State Senator: You can say, “As a constituent of Senator __________, I am contacting him/her to urge opposition to Senate File 1118, which will make it a crime to videotape or show video from inside puppy and kitten mills and factory farms in Minnesota. Undercover investigations protect the public- the public has an interest in knowing about consumer product safety violations and abuses of animals. To ensure a safe food supply and animal welfare in MN, I urge him/her to oppose SF 1118. Thank you.”
State Representative: You can say, “As a constituent of Representative __________, I am contacting him/her to urge opposition to House File 1369, which will make it a crime to videotape or show video from inside puppy and kitten mills and factory farms in Minnesota. Undercover investigations protect the public- the public has an interest in knowing about consumer product safety violations and abuses of animals. To ensure a safe food supply and animal welfare in MN, I urge him/her to oppose HF 1369. Thank you.”
Talking points
- Undercover investigations protect the public
The public has an interest in knowing about consumer product safety violations. In states around the country, undercover investigations at farming and slaughter operations have revealed animal husbandry practices and conditions that threaten the safety of the food supply.
- Undercover investigations protect animals from cruelty and suffering
The bills prohibit usage of one of the most important tools the humane movement has to protect animals- undercover investigations that expose animal cruelty and suffering that goes on behind closed doors in Minnesota.
Do even more
Download and print copies of this one page fact sheet and distribute to family, friends, and others you know in the humane and rescue communities.
Sign the online petition to keep humane undercover investigations legal in Minnesota.
Thank you for taking action!
