Game breeder license; possessory interest in deer established; killing, testing, prohibition of transfer of deer by state agencies for disease prohibited, subject to exceptions

The definition of 'protected game animals and game birds' was expanded to explicitly list whitetail deer, elk, fallow deer, and non-indigenous cervids introduced before May 1, 2006.

New provisions require the department to adopt rules by March 1, 2026, allowing cervid transfers between licensees under specific conditions like double fencing and approved testing.

The bill now prohibits the department from adopting emergency rules that would override the new transfer provisions.

The section prohibiting the killing of cervids due to disease was restructured to list specific exceptions more clearly, focusing on disease detection within the licensee's own herd or epidemiological links from other licensees.

The document was updated from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' status, and page headers and tracking numbers were adjusted to reflect the final version passed by both legislative chambers.