DES MOINES — Iowa is on the verge of becoming the first state to criminalize recording farm sights and sounds without prior permission from the farmer or business owner.

It’s become a hot-button issue in the waning days of the legislative session, one that pits environmental and animal rights activists against farmers and agribusiness interests.

On one side are the activists who surreptitiously record how animals are kept or slaughtered on farms. On the other side are the farm owners who don’t want them to do that.

The activists say their actions are protected under the First Amendment. The farmers say it’s an invasion of privacy made intentionally to damage the industry.

“They want to hurt an important part of our economy,” said Sen. Tom Rielly, D-Oskaloosa. “These people don’t want us to have eggs; they don’t want people to eat meat.”

Rielly is working on an amendment to the legislation that has already passed the House with bipartisan support. He said it will likely get a hearing in the Senate still this session.

If it passes there and the House agrees to the amended Senate version, it goes to the governor for his signature.