The Ending Agricultural Trades Suppression Act (EATS Act), essentially a reintroduction of the legislation proposed by former Rep. Steve King (R-IA) would establish federal precedence over state laws that place restrictions on housing and management systems used in other states.  The EATS Act was introduced in response to the June 2023 Supreme Court decision upholding California Proposition #12.  The proposed legislation, presumably to be incorporated in the 2023 Farm Bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Pork Producers Council and Attorneys General of 16 states.

The EATS Act is currently opposed by a consortium of Attorneys General from 16 other states claiming that the legislation would restrict states’ rights in addition to animal rights organizations. During early October, 16 Republican members of the house indicated their opposition to the EATS Act. This suggests that there will be only a remote possibility of enactment in its present form and most probably not as part of the 2023 Farm Bill that will be delayed at least into the first quarter of 2024.