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Senate approves bill widening protections for agricultural operations after amendment
Summary
The Senate passed the third substitute to HB 187, which aims to protect agricultural operations from interference and misrepresentation; members debated whistleblower protections and whether the bill applies to public lands. An amendment clarifying the definition to private property was adopted before final passage.
The Utah Senate on March 6 passed the third substitute to House Bill 187, legislation intended to protect agricultural operations from disruption, defamation and entry under false pretenses.
Senator Hankins, sponsor, said the bill protects producers and processors from people who infiltrate operations to sabotage animals, steal, or create disruption. The bill includes protections for workers reporting genuine illegal activity; Hankins said whistleblowers would be covered when reporting illegal acts.
Senators discussed the bill’s scope for operations on public lands, possible effects on food-safety monitoring and the balance between private-property protection and public oversight. Senator Romero asked that lines 44–45 be struck to avoid criminalizing employees who, acting in good faith, make recordings of concerns; Hankins and the sponsor explained the bill’s language targets behavior "while employed" and not good-faith whistleblowing.
The Senate adopted an amendment adding the word "private" before "property" in the bill’s definition to limit its reach and then approved the third substitute (24 yea, 5 nay, 0 absent). The bill will be returned to the House with the amendment.
What’s next: HB 187 as amended will go back to the House for further action on the amendment and any final enrollment steps.
Sources: Floor debate including statements by Senators Hankins, Hinkins, Romero and Jenkins.
