Farmed Animal Anti-Confinement Legislation

Farm Animal Anti-Confinement Legislation - Photo by Mercy for Animals

Millions of pigs, calves, and chickens are forced to spend their lives confined in spaces so small they can't even turn around. Gestation crates, veal crates, and battery cages prevent animals from performing natural behaviors, thus causing injuries and significant physical and psychological stress.

A growing number of states are passing legislation to prohibit intensive confinement crates for calves raised for veal and gestating sows, and battery cages for egg-laying hens.

States restricting or prohibiting intensive confinement:

State Year Format of Provision Details
Arizona 2006

Ballot Measure (codified as Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-2910.07)

Prohibits confining veal calves and gestating sows where they cannot lie down, fully extend limbs, or turn around freely for the majority (or all) of the day.

2019 Regulation (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-2-901) Requires producers with more than 20,000 egg-laying hens to provide one square foot of floor space per hen after October 2022; requires cage free housing by January 2025; bans the in-state sale of eggs that come from hens raised in conditions that violate these standards.
California 2008

Ballot Measure (codified as Cal. Health and Safety Code, Ch. 13.8 § 25990)

Prohibits confining veal calves, gestating sows, and hens where they cannot lie down, fully extend limbs, or turn around freely.

2010

Legislation (Cal. Health and Safety Code, Ch. 14 § 25995)

Bans in-state sale of shelled eggs from hens that were unable to lie down, fully extend limbs, or turn around freely.

2018

Ballot Measure (codified as Cal. Health and Safety Code, Ch. 13.8 § 25990)

Amends existing anti-confinement laws to require 24 square feet per sow during gestation, 43 square feet per veal calf, and 1 to 1.5 square feet per egg-laying hen; bans the in-state sale of whole veal and pork meat and egg products that come from animals raised in conditions that violate these standards.

Colorado 2008

Legislation (as Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 35-50.5-101 et seq.)

Prohibits confining veal calves and gestating sows where they cannot stand up, lie down, or turn around freely.

2020 Legislation (Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 35-21-201 et seq.) Requires producers with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens to provide hens confined in an enclosure with at least one square foot of floor space by 2023; requires cage-free housing by 2025; bans the in-state sale of eggs that come from hens kept in conditions that violate these standards.
Florida 2002

Ballot Measure (codified in Fla. Const. Art. X, § 21).

Prohibits gestation crates that prevent a pig from turning around freely; also includes a general statement that “inhumane treatment of animals is a concern of Florida citizens.”

Kentucky 2014

Regulations (302 Ky. Admin. Regs. 21:030)

After Dec. 31, 2017 calves raised for veal must be able to stand without impediment, rest in normal posture, groom, and eat.

Maine 2009

Legislation (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 4020)

Prohibits confining veal calves and gestating sows where they cannot stand up, lie down, fully extend limbs, or turn around freely for the majority (or all) of the day.

Massachusetts 2016

Ballot Measure (enacted as Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 129 App., § 1-5).

After 2022, prohibits breeding pigs, calves raised for veal and egg laying hens from being confined in a manner that prevents them lying down, standing up, fully extending their limbs, or turning around freely. Prohibits the in-state sale of whole veal, whole pork and shell eggs derived from animals kept in conditions that violate these standards.

2021 Legislation (Mass St. 2021, c. 108) Amendment to existing law that changes the space allowance required for egg-laying hens from 1.5 square feet to 1 square foot; delayed the implementation of the in-state sales ban of meat produced from pigs confined in a cruel manner to August, 2022.
Michigan 2009

Legislation (Mich. Comp. Laws. Ann. § 287.746)

Prohibits confinement of veal calves, gestating sows, and hens where they cannot stand up, lie down, fully extend limbs, or turn around freely for the majority (or all) of the day.

2019 Legislation (Mich. Comp. Laws. Ann. § 287.746) Requires producers with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens to provide cage free housing and at least 1 square foot of floor space per hen by 2025; bans the in-state sale of shell eggs that come from hens kept in conditions that violate these standards.
Nevada 2021 Legislation (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 583.237 et seq.) Requires producers with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens to provide one square foot of floor space after July 2022; requires cage-free housing by 2024; bans the in-state sale of egg products that come from hens kept in conditions that violate these standards.
New Jersey 2023 Legislation (A1970)  Prohibits confinement in an enclosure of any breeding sow or calf raised for veal in a manner that prevents them from lying down, standing up, fully extending their limbs, or turning around freely. 
Ohio 2010

Regulations (Ohio Admin. Code §901:12-5-03 [veal]; §901:12-8 [swine])

Requires veal calves to be housed in group pens by 10 weeks of age where they can stand without impediment, rest using normal postures, groom, eat, turn around, and lie down. After 2025, sows may only be housed in gestation crates after 2025 to post-weaning for a period of time that seeks to maximize embryonic welfare and allows for confirmation of pregnancy.

Oregon 2007

Legislation (Or. Rev. Stat. § 600.150)

Prohibits confinement of gestating sows for more than twelve hours during a 24 hour period in a way that does not allow them to lie down, fully extend limbs, and turn around freely.

2011

Legislation (Or. Rev. Stat. § 632.840 former)

Authorizes Dept. of Agriculture to promulgate regulations phasing in colony cages by 2026, increasing the amount of space required for egg-laying hens to the American Humane Association’s requirements. [Superseded by later legislation]

2019 Legislation (Or. Rev. Stat. § 632.840 S.B. 1019) Supersedes prior legislation. Requires producers with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens to provide cage free housing and at least 1 square foot of floor space per hen by 2024; bans the in-state sale of shell eggs that come from hens kept in conditions that violate these standards.
Rhode Island 2012

Legislation (4 R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §4-1.1-3)

Prohibits confining veal calves and gestating sows where they cannot stand up, lie down, fully extend limbs, or turn around freely.

2018

Legislation (R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. §§ 4-1.1-1 et seq.)

 After 2026, new in state producers must provide egg-laying hens with at least 1 square feet of floor space.

Utah 2021 Legislation (Utah Code Ann. § 4-4a-101 et seq.) Requires producers with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens to provide cage free housing and at least 1 square foot of floor space per hen by 2025. 
Washington 2011

Legislation (Wash. Rev. Code § 69.25.065 and § 69.25.107 former)

Requires producers with 3,000 egg-laying hens or more to provide 116.3 square inches of space (per the American Humane Association requirements). [Superseded by later legislation]

2019

Legislation (Wash. Rev. Code § 69.25.065 and § 69.25.107)

Requires producers with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens to provide cage free housing and at least 1 square foot of floor space per hen by January 2024; bans the in-state sale of egg products that come from hens kept in conditions that violate these standards.