RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed legislation Friday that would have limited monetary damages in civil lawsuits filed by neighbors of hog and poultry farm operations when judges determine the stench from animal waste is a nuisance.

Cooper said the measure, which now returns to the General Assembly for a potential override, improperly gave special protection to industrial farm operations and opens the door to weakening civil actions in other nuisance matters.

"The agriculture and forestry industries are vital to our economy and we should encourage them to thrive. But nuisance laws can...