"FRANKFORT — A bill backed by Kentucky’s poultry industry and approved by the Senate Thursday would subject drone operators to new restrictions that opponents warn could help hide health and safety hazards in food production.
Critics worry that Senate Bill 16, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel, a Republican from Northern Kentucky, could criminalize more activities than lawmakers realize and that it’s part of a long line of so-called “ag-gag” laws enacted across the country to block whistleblowers and watchdogs from investigating the conduct and practices of industrial agriculture.
Schickel on the Senate floor said Kentucky’s poultry industry has large “chicken houses” and processing facilities around the state, and the industry had asked for help dealing with drones flying over and “basically harassing” their facilities."
Liam Niemeyer reports for the Kentucky Lantern February 15, 2024.
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