California’s Landmark Proposition 12 Animal Welfare Law Survives Latest Supreme Court Challenge

The United States Supreme Court recently declined to review a case challenging California’s landmark Proposition 12—a major victory for farmed animal welfare. The Court denied a petition brought by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), which sought to overturn a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision dismissing their lawsuit. The IPPA argued that the law was unconstitutional because it dictates farming practices outside California and imposes an unfair burden on out-of-state producers.

Proposition 12, passed with strong support from California voters in 2018, sets minimum space requirements for mother pigs, egg-laying hens, and veal calves. It also prohibits the sale of products in California that do not meet these more humane standards, even if they are produced in other states. The law aims to reduce the cruel extreme-confinement practices commonly used in factory farming, such as gestation crates for pigs and battery cages for hens.

This challenge marked the third time the meat industry has tried—and failed—to overturn Proposition 12 at the Supreme Court after every lower court upheld the law’s constitutionality.

Although this Supreme Court decision is a major win for animals and states’ rights, the fight is far from over. Despite the Court repeatedly affirming Proposition 12 and the principles behind it, some lawmakers are still pushing the so-called Food Security and Farm Protection Act (formerly the EATS Act), a sweeping federal bill designed to strip states of their power to set higher animal welfare standards. If passed, it would override countless animal protection laws—including bans on cosmetic testing and puppy mills—and block initiatives like Denver’s current effort to ban the force-feeding of animals for foie gras. This dangerous legislation would undo decades of progress, stall positive momentum, and harm animals nationwide. We must remain vigilant to ensure it never becomes law.

Over 11,000 people have already signed our petition opposing the unconstitutional Food Security and Farm Protection Act—but we need more support to neutralize this threat in Congress. If you haven’t already, please sign today and share this petition with your networks.