Bill > HSB188

This Study Bill, titled "A bill for an act prohibiting interference with the transportation of an agricultural animal, and providing penalties," aims to prevent individuals from disrupting the movement of farm animals. It defines "agricultural animal" broadly to include various livestock like cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry, as well as farm deer, ostriches, rheas, emus, fish, and honey bees. The bill makes it illegal to knowingly stop, hinder, impede, board, obstruct, or otherwise interfere with a motor vehicle carrying these animals, or to provoke, disturb, or interact with the animals while they are in transit. A person can defend themselves by proving they had the consent of someone authorized to transport or control the animal, such as a shipper or the animal's owner. Violating the prohibition against interfering with the vehicle itself or the animals within it is classified as an aggravated misdemeanor, but it becomes a class "D" felony if the person has a prior conviction for the same offense.