A bill has been introduced in the Illinois legislature that’s nearly identical to California’s Proposition 2. The bill amends the Humane Care for Animals Act and proposes to establish laws for egg-laying hens, gestating sows and veal calves.

In Ohio, farm groups met with Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) on Feb. 17. The main topic of discussion was legislation to ban cages for laying hens, gestation stalls for pregnant sows and veal crates. HSUS asked the groups to have dialogue on a legislative ban in an effort to avoid a ballot initiative.

And in Connecticut, legislative committee hearings were held in February on a bill that would eliminate the cage-layer business in the state. A broad coalition of groups testified against the bill, including not just ag groups but railroads and the Teamsters union, as well.