H999 • 2025

An Act establishing a deer population control commission

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Christopher M. Markey
Last action: 2026-02-25
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5145
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act establishing a deer population control commission

An Act establishing a deer population control commission By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act establishing a deer population control commission By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
999) of Christopher M.
Markey and others for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to deer population control.
Environment and Natural Resources.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-25 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5145
2025-10-10 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 10/21/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act establishing a deer population control commission
By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 999) of Christopher M. Markey and others for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to deer population control. Environment and Natural Resources.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

×

Bill H.999

Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary, there shall be established a commission called the deer population control commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission, for the purpose of identifying best practices and methods for controlling the deer population in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Berkshire, Hampden, Worcester, Franklin, and Hampshire Counties.

The commission shall be made up of 6 members: 1 member of the Senate, whom shall be appointed by the Senate President; 1 member of the House of Representatives, whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1 member representing local Rod and Gun Clubs, who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Bow Hunters Association; 1 member representing the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Resources; 1 member representing the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1 licensed automobile insurance broker representing the insurance industry, who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents.

The commission shall recommend best practices for controlling the Commonwealth’s deer population and methods for assisting farmers in preventing and combating property damage caused by deer.

The commission shall file its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the Clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture no later than March 1, 2024.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close