Summary: Establishes minimum requirements for confining certain farm animals. Prohibits sales of meat and egg products from animals confined in noncomplying manner. Fiscal Impact: Potential decrease in state income tax revenues from farm businesses, likely not more than several million dollars annually. State costs up to $10 million annually to enforce the measure.
According to the California General Election for Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Official Voter Guide, Proposition 12 proposes the following:
- Establishes new minimum space requirements for confining veal calves, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens.
- Requires egg-laying hens be raised in cage-free environment after December 31, 2021.
- Prohibits certain commercial sales of specified meat and egg products derived from animals confined in noncomplying manner.
- Defines sales violations as unfair competition.
- Creates good faith defense for sellers relying upon written certification by suppliers that meat and egg products comply with new confinement standards.
- Requires State of California to issue implementing regulations
The voter guide (attached as a pdf) outlines the supporting and opposing arguments for the proposal. The guide also includes a visual figure showing the changes in minimum space requirements for the covered animals and when those go into effect. For more, see http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/12/