Rep. John Mathis, R-Vernal, wants to put a stop to what he called “animal-rights terrorists” who take videos or photos on farmers’ property without permission to create propaganda aimed at destroying the agriculture industry.

“There are groups with the stated purpose to do away with animal agriculture, and that’s egregious — that’s egregious to me,” Mathis told legislators this week.

Mathis’ bill, HB187, would make “agricultural operation interference” a crime, a class A misdemeanor on the first offense, a third-degree felony on the second.

Such undercover photography is needed to bring animal abuse on factory farms to public attention, said Lindsay Rajt, a national spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Such investigations have led to criminal prosecutions in some states, she added.

The proposed Utah law could discourage farm employees who have legitimate concerns for animal cruelty from documenting and reporting.

The public deserves a right to know what's going on behind the scenes.