In addition to an ongoing legal challenge in Montana, state beef checkoff programs in thirteen additional states are now facing legal challenge, including Texas. At question is whether producers’ right to free speech under the First Amendment is being violated when they are required to pay money to a state beef council to support speech contrary to their beliefs. A critical issue in this case will be whether the promotions funded by the qualified state beef councils, like the Montana Beef Council, constitute private speech. Tiffany Dowell Lashmet examines the details of the litigation in this week’s Texas Ag Law Blog post. Read more…