Defending Animal Protection Laws: Legislative Strategies Against Big Ag Pushback

In this collaborative episode with Animal Policy Alliance, Our Hen House explores the critical defensive battles being waged in state legislatures to protect animals from harmful agricultural industry bills. From blocking anti-drone legislation in Missouri to defeating rabbit farming expansion in Connecticut, our guests share their strategies for legislative success despite being outspent and outmaneuvered by powerful industry interests.

• Successfully blocked anti-drone bills that would prevent documentation of factory farm abuses
• Defeated rabbit farming expansion with overwhelming public testimony (568 against vs. 5 in support)
• Built strategic coalitions with unexpected allies including small farmers and law enforcement
• Leveraged research and evidence-based arguments to strengthen grassroots advocacy
• Engaged youth through education about legislative process and animal protection
• Used behind-the-scenes tactics to work effectively with legislators across party lines

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Bob Baker serves as Executive Director of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, bringing nearly 50 years of animal welfare expertise to the role. As a former national investigator for the ASPCA, Humane Farming Association, and Chief Investigator for the Humane Society of the United States, Bob has conducted animal cruelty investigations and advocacy work across 42 states. His extensive legislative experience has yielded significant victories for both companion and agricultural animals, most notably spearheading the 2011 Canine Cruelty Prevention Act that successfully shut down over 1,200 puppy mills in Missouri. His comprehensive background in animal protection legislation, puppy mill investigations, and farm animal advocacy has established him as a leading voice in animal welfare reform.

Joshua is the Legislative & Advocacy Manager for CT Votes for Animals. His role is multifaceted and involves policy research, strategic planning and coalition-building, lobbying with state and local officials, and facilitating education outreach initiatives that aim to increase the understanding of, and participation in, the state legislative process. 

Hannah Truxell is the Senior Policy Counsel with The Humane League where she leads a team of researchers who focus on providing support to THL’s Animal Policy Alliance. She and her team focus on state, federal, and local policy research, drafting model legislation, and legislative and campaign strategy. Hannah led THL’s internal research for and support to the organization’s legal team’s success in defending California’s Proposition 12 before the U.S. Supreme Court, the most impactful animal welfare law in the world. With more than a decade in various in-house roles, Hannah has broad experience in nonprofit law, animal law, and public policy. She previously served as Assistant General Counsel of The Humane League, counsel at Farm Sanctuary, and pro bono counsel with the Animal Welfare Institute. Hannah is the current Chair of the Kentucky Bar Association’s Animal Law Section and co-founded a Kentucky grassroots nonprofit, Kentucky Animal Action. She earned JD and Master of Political Science degrees from the University of Louisville and a BA from Virginia Tech.

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The Animal Policy Alliance, established by The Humane League, is a powerful collective of local and state-level animal advocacy groups throughout the United States. We serve as a trusted resource, providing knowledge, strategies, connection opportunities, and grants to our member organizations. We lead with purpose, empowering alliance members to build toward our shared vision of a world without animal abuse.

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Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series.

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