Animal Agriculture State Policy Trends Report

During the 2024-2025 State Legislative Session, policymakers in all fifty states introduced nearly 500 bills related to animal agriculture. From proactive bills designed to address rural resource extraction by CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) to bills that would expand cage-free requirements for laying hens and support farmers in transitioning to regenerative practices, many state policymakers worked alongside advocates and rural communities to rein in corporate control and protect our natural resources and animal welfare. On the flip side, some states attempted to roll back cage-free requirements due to the avian influenza outbreak, while others attempted to expand tax exemptions for biodigesters. 

The 2024-2025 Animal Agriculture State Policy Trends Report examines and analyzes these legislative trends related to animal agriculture across all 50 states. It aims to highlight where legislation is advancing, acknowledge regional patterns, and identify opportunities for organizers and policymakers to develop legislation that supports public and planetary health.  The project was developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) in partnership with the Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) and State Innovation Exchange (SiX).