Rep. Cindy Agidius, R-Moscow, told Rep. Gayle Batt, R-Wilder, sponsor of SB 1337, that she’s received lots of emails questioning whether the so-called “ag-gag” bill will block whistleblowers from reporting abuses at agricultural operations. “Nowhere in this legislation does it address whistle-blowing at all,” Batt responded.

She then deferred to Brian Oakey, deputy director of the state Department of Agriculture. “In your view, does this legislation have anything to do with prohibiting a person from reporting animal abuse?” House Ag Chairman Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, asked Oakey. “No,” he responded. “Our role and our job would basically remain the same.” Oakey said the department has a hotline for complaints of animal abuse, and tries to respond to complaints within 24 hours. He said in 2013, the department received 63 complaints, and so far in 2014, it has received 42.