North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed a bill that would limit the liability of large livestock farms when they are sued for creating a public nuisance due to odors or manure runoff. His veto may not be the end of the story because hog farmers are encouraging the legislature to override the veto.
“Our laws offer special protections for a wide range of industries – and farmers are among them,” said the North Carolina Pork Council, in urging an override. The group said the legislation would provide “clarity and certainty to farmers while ensuring that property owners remain protected.” The bill would limit damages in nuisance lawsuits to no more than the fair market value of their property. Opponents say the bill unduly restricts the rights of people living near industrial livestock farms.
Cooper has vetoed three other bills this year and all of the vetoes were overturned by lawmakers, said public broadcaster WUNC-FM. If lawmakers vote the same way on an override as they did in passing the bill, “the GOP would have enough votes to override the governor’s veto” on nuisance lawsuits. In a statement, Cooper said nuisance laws protect property rights. WUNC-FM quoted the governor as saying, “Special protection for one industry opens the door to weakening our nuisance laws in other areas which can allow real harm to homeowners, the environment and everyday North Carolinians.”