Yesterday (Thursday, February 20, 2025), Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird visited northwest Iowa to have roundtable discussions with law enforcement officials about crime victim services. While she was here, she took the time to have a conversation with Sioux County Radio. One topic we discussed was California’s Proposition 12, a law that imposes strict farming regulations on out-of-state pork producers. Bird expressed her strong opposition to Prop 12.
Bird, who grew up on a farm, emphasized the significant impact this mandate could have on Iowa’s agriculture industry.
Bird is leading a coalition of 23 states in an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the court to review and overturn Proposition 12. She argues that the law violates the federal Constitution and unfairly dictates how farmers in other states should operate.
We asked the Attorney General what the timeframe is for the Supreme Court appeal by the coalition of states.
Approximately 147,000 Iowans work to raise and deliver quality pork throughout the state, contributing billions of dollars to the economy each year. Since California is the nation’s top pork-consuming state, it has major influence over the whole market. Bird and her coalition argue that Proposition 12 violates several parts of the Constitution, including the Dormant Commerce Clause, the Import-Export Clause, and the Full Faith and Credit Clause. The Attorney General also mentioned that Iowa has been at the forefront of defending pork producers against similar regulations, including a recent opposition to Massachusetts’ “Question 3.”
Source: Sioux County Radio
