In this blog, 2L staffer Mario Ponce analyzes Hawaii’s new coffee labeling law, which raises the minimum regional blend threshold to 51% for Hawaiian-origin names. While this change aims to safeguard local agriculture, Ponce argues that the state must implement a strict 100% exclusive standard to truly protect growers and prevent deceptive marketing.
Running in Circles: Defining “Horse Racing Activity” Under Kentucky’s Farm Animal
In this blog, 2L staffer Kylee Greene analyzes the current landscape of Kentucky’s Farm Animal Activity Act’s (FAAA) horse racing exemption. She argues that the definition of “horse racing activity” under the FAAA is inadequate and proposes a three-factor test that considers the nature of the farm animal activity, whether the plaintiff’s injury occurred on the racetrack, and the temporal proximity between the plaintiff’s injury and the race.
Holding the Line: Why HISA’s Crop Rules Serve Both Horse and Jockey
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) national riding crop rules have drawn criticism for punishing jockeys who strike a horse to keep it, and themselves, safe. In this blog, 2L staff editor Sydney Gibson argues that the rules strike the right balance. By limiting crop use while exempting strikes made for safety, they protect horse welfare without leaving riders exposed. Early data showing fewer violations and less stretch interference suggest the framework is working, and the remaining concerns call for consistent stewarding, not a looser rule.
When the Clock Changes: House Bill 320, KRS 446.080(3), and Claims That Accrued Before 2024
In this blog, staffer Aaron Withers examines House Bill 320, which in 2024 shortened Kentucky's limitations period for civil rights and wrongful-discharge claims from five years to three without saying whether the change reaches claims that had already accrued. Withers argues that under KRS 446.080(3), claims that accrued before July 15, 2024 remain subject to the five-year period, and that courts lack authority to write in the grace period the General Assembly left out. He urges the General Assembly to adopt a default transition rule in KRS Chapter 446, explaining why certainty matters to Kentucky farms and mineral interests.
Who Owns a Horse’s DNA? Genetic Testing, Disclosure, and the Future of Equine Sales
In this blog, 3L staffer Emma Johns examines how equine genetic testing raises questions about control over genetic information and disclosure obligations in Kentucky horse sales. She argues that Kentucky should encourage clearer sale and testing agreements governing disclosure, sample retention, and data use, while clarifying when known genetic results trigger the warranty exception for sellers who knowingly sell diseased animals.
Horses and Divorces: Valuing Unborn Racehorses in Kentucky Divorce Courts
In this blog, 3L staffer Jordan Guancione explores how Kentucky divorce courts should value unborn racehorses by looking to how courts have divided unvested pensions and stock options. She examines the “immediate offset” method as a potential solution for dividing an asset whose future value remains uncertain.
Living with the Land: An Examination of Indoor Agriculture Regulations
In this blog, 2L staffer Kristen Bailey analyzes Disney's “Living with the Land” attraction that takes guests through a tour of one of Disney's greenhouses, showcasing their innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. Disney goes above state regulations and follows stricter self-created guidelines, posing the question of whether state law adequately protects indoor agriculture when Disney is going beyond state and federal regulations to create their own. This blog argues that states should enact more specific and detailed regulations regarding indoor agricultural practices in order to best protect our environment.
The Ozempic Effect: Kentucky Agriculture Needs to Get Ready for a Smaller Appetite
In this blog, 3L staffer Lakyn LeMaster analyzes how the increasing popularity of GLP-1 medications may be reshaping consumer food habits and, in turn, impacting Kentucky’s agricultural industry. LeMaster addresses the risks that changing demands could create for Kentucky, particularly as consumers purchase less ultra-processed and fast food while showing increased interest in fresh foods. Ultimately, she argues that Kentucky’s agricultural community should proactively monitor these trends and encourage diversification to ensure producers are prepared for an evolving market.
The "Clean Beauty" Conundrum: The New Wave of Beauty Litigation
In this blog, 2L staffer Grace Hager analyzes the escalating legal crisis facing the "Clean Beauty" industry driven by 2026 FDA findings and new state-level bans. Hager explores the debate between the industry’s current reliance on self-defined clean standards versus the growing legal demand for lab-verified transparency. Ultimately, she takes the position that retailers must assume a heightened legal risk that can no longer be hidden by vague marketing claims.




