Andy Holt (politician)

Of the two bills impacting agricultural operations that were introduced by Holt, one gained national attention.[4] Holt's HB 1191 (and companion SB 1248 introduced by Senator Dolores R. Gresham (R-26)) required anyone intentionally recording images documenting cruelty against livestock to, within 48 hours, report the violation and submit unedited photographs or video recordings to law enforcement.[9][10] The bill made violation of the law a class C misdemeanor punishable by fine.

This type of bill, sometimes characterized as “anti-whistleblower” or “ag-gag” legislation, sparked heated public discourse. Rep. Holt asserted that the bill was intended to quickly expose animal cruelty.[11] However, animal protection organizations, such as the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, and Mercy for Animals opposed the bill, arguing that it would instead result in short, incomplete investigations and prevent whistleblowers from coming forward, for fear of prosecution.[11]

In public debate over HB 1191 after it passed and before it was signed into law by the governor, Rep. Holt sent an email to HSUS Public Policy Coordinator Kayci McLeod saying that "propagandist groups of radical animal activists, like your fraudulent and reprehensibly disgusting organization of maligned animal abuse profiteering corporatists ... are intent on using animals the same way human-traffickers use 17 year old women," and referring to HSUS methods as "tape and rape".[12]

Rep. Holt also debated the issue, via Twitter, with country singer Carrie Underwood.[11] Underwood criticized Tennessee lawmakers saying “Shame on TN lawmakers for passing the Ag Gag bill. If Gov. Bill Haslam signs this, he needs to expect me at his front door. Who’s with me?”[11] Holt replied, “I would say that if Carrie Underwood will stick to singing, I’ll stick to lawmaking.”[11] Underwood, in turn replied “I should stick to singing? Wow…sorry, I’m just a tax paying citizen concerned for the safety of my family.”[13]

On May 13, 2013, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam indicated that he would veto the bill because the Attorney General called the law "constitutionally suspect", because it appears to repeal parts of Tennessee's Shield Law without saying so, and because "there are concerns from some district attorneys that the act actually makes it more difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases".[14]