The Trump administration just filed a major lawsuit aimed at California’s cage-free egg law, arguing that it’s driving up food prices and violating federal law.
And if the courts agree, Nevada could be next on the hot seat.
At the center of the fight is California’s 2018 Proposition 12, which bans the sale of eggs from hens kept in traditional cages – even if those eggs come from out of state.
The law went into full effect in 2022, and egg prices soared.
According to a peer-reviewed study in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the law has caused up to $72 million in welfare losses to households every year and profit losses of up to 18% for the egg industry.
Now, Trump’s legal team is pushing back.
The lawsuit argues that California is trying to set national food policy by using its massive market to force other states to comply.
That, they say, violates the Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970, which was meant to stop exactly this kind of patchwork regulation.
So what does this mean for Nevada?
Turns out, we’ve got a similar law.
In fact, Nevada Democrats passed their own cage-free mandate a few years ago.
However, the law was temporarily suspended back in February – for just six months – under the excuse of “economic hardship.” Why?
Because egg prices were already through the roof – with a national average of $5 a dozen and California pushing close to $10.
Nevada wasn’t far behind. And lawmakers knew full well that continuing to enforce the cage-free rule would only make things worse for families.
So they hit the pause button. Not a repeal, as Gov. Joe Lombardo requested. Not a rollback. Just a delay.
And guess what? That delay is up – as are egg prices in Nevada…again.
If the Trump administration wins its case, Nevada’s law could get swept up in the same legal ruling.
However, Nevadans are already finding their own ways around the high prices.
Backyard chicken coops are becoming more popular, especially in rural and suburban areas.
Places like Elko, Fallon, and even parts of Clark County are seeing a rise in people raising their own hens just to keep food on the table.
It’s not always easy – zoning rules vary by city – but families are doing what they can.
Critics of the Trump lawsuit say it’s just political grandstanding. They blame egg shortages on bird flu and claim the price hikes are temporary.
But even without avian flu, the math doesn’t lie: more regulations mean higher costs. And voters are noticing.
Nevada Democrats had their chance to fix this. Instead, they kicked the can down the road for half a year and hoped no one would notice.
Now, with the Trump administration turning up the heat, that temporary pause might not be enough.
If they’re serious about helping families, it’s time to scrap the cage-free mandate for good – before we all get burned again.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
