NC: Don’t Give Factory Farms Constitutional Protection

close up on pig looking through pig sty bars

NC S.B. 1081 — Constitutional Protections for Factory Farms

ASPCA Position: Oppose

North Carolina lawmakers are fast-tracking a dangerous bill that could extend unprecedented protections to factory farms while silencing the communities harmed by them.

This bill would place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that creates a broad, “fundamental right to farm” in the North Carolina Constitution — even though the state already has longstanding Right to Farm protections.

We need to fight this bill because we cannot allow this proposed constitutional amendment to reach the ballot. Its intentionally misleading name makes it sound harmless — even positive — but in reality, it is a giant gift to industrial agriculture concerns. If passed by voters, this constitutional amendment would make it incredibly difficult for lawmakers, local governments and residents to defend against the most harmful and damaging agricultural practices.

In addition to the suffering they inflict on millions of animals, factory farming operations can have devastating consequences for surrounding communities, including:

Contaminated waterways from animal waste runoff
Dangerous air pollution and overwhelming odors
Decreasing property values and economic decline
Serious public health risks

Instead of addressing these harms, this bill would further shield factory farms from accountability. Protected by this amendment, a factory farm could open its doors in your neighborhood, lower your property value, pollute your water and air and harm your health — all without giving you any legal recourse.

What You Can Do

Don’t delay: this bill is moving quickly and we need your help to stop it. Please complete our brief form below to urge your state lawmakers to vote NO on S.B. 1081.

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject Please Vote No on S.B. 1081

Dear Lawmaker,

Message

As a North Carolina resident and your constituent, I am writing to urge you to oppose S.B. 1081.

North Carolina already has Right to Farm protections in state law. This proposed constitutional amendment goes much further by potentially giving industrial agriculture operations stronger protections at the expense of local communities, environmental safeguards and animal welfare.

Communities across North Carolina deserve clean air, clean water and the ability to respond to harmful impacts from large-scale factory farming operations, including pollution, public health concerns and declining quality of life.
Constitutional amendments are difficult to reverse and could limit future efforts to strengthen protections for residents, animals and the environment.

Please stand with North Carolina’s communities, not corporate factory farming interests and vote NO on S.B. 1081.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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