Dairy farmers enraged by spying animal-rights activists got a boost when senators agreed to intensify punishments for those who film their operations without permission.
Idaho's Senate voted 23-10 Friday to put people caught surreptitiously recording agricultural operations in jail and fine them $5,000.
The bill now goes to the House.
This measure stems from a 2012 incident at an Idaho dairy where activists captured images of workers caning, beating and stomping on cows.
Idaho's $2.5 billion milk industry argues the video was used by "agri-terrorists" not to curb abuse, but to harm the dairy — even after its owner fired workers and pursued animal-cruelty prosecution.
Foes including Republican Sen. Curt McKenzie, branded the measure too extreme, while Democrats compared activists to muckraker Upton Sinclair.
Utah has a similar "ag-gag law."
