SB2428 • 2026

White-tailed deer enclosures; enable testing for CWD by submission of viable samples or alternative methods for such testing.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-58.6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ENABLE TESTING OF WHITE-TAILED DEER HARVESTED WITHIN ANY ENCLOSURE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) BY ANNUAL SUBMISSION OF VIABLE SAMPLES OR ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR SUCH TESTING; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS REQUIRING THE SUBMISSION OF SUCH SAMPLES OR ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR CWD TESTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Suber
Last action: 2026-03-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore has no legal effect.

Testing Deer for a Disease

This bill allows deer hunters to test white-tailed deer harvested within enclosures for chronic wasting disease (CWD) using samples or alternative methods and requires the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission to create rules about this testing.

What This Bill Does

Allows people who hunt deer in enclosed areas to test those deer for a sickness called CWD by sending in samples from the deer or using other ways of testing.
Requires the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission to make rules that say how often hunters must send in samples or use alternative methods to check for CWD.

Who It Names or Affects

Hunters who hunt white-tailed deer inside enclosures
The Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission

Terms To Know

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): A sickness that affects the brain of deer and other animals like elk and moose.
Enclosure: An area where animals are kept inside a fence or barrier.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass, so it does not have any effect.
It is unclear how many hunters will comply with the testing requirements and submit samples as required by the new rules.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (H) Referred To Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (S) Transmitted To House
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (S) Passed As Amended
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (S) Amended
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (S) Committee Substitute Failed
2026-02-02 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/02 (S) Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (S) Referred To Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Official Summary Text

White-tailed deer enclosures; enable testing for CWD by submission of viable samples or alternative methods for such testing.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2428 *SS26/R816PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R816PS
PAGE 1

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Suber

SENATE BILL NO. 2428
(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-58.6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO ENABLE TESTING OF WHITE-TAILED DEER HARVESTED WITHIN ANY 2
ENCLOSURE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) BY ANNUAL SUBMISSION 3
OF VIABLE SAMPLES OR ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR SUCH TESTING; TO 4
REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO 5
PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS REQUIRING THE SUBMISSION OF SUCH 6
SAMPLES OR ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR CWD TESTING; AND FOR RELATED 7
PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-58.6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 10
amended as follows: 11
49-7-58.6. (1) (a) White-tailed deer harvested within any 12
enclosure shall be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) by 13
annual submission of viable samples or alternative methods for 14
such testing. 15
(b) The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 16
shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring the annual 17
submission of viable samples * * * or alternative methods for 18
chronic wasting disease testing. * * * 19
(c) In addition * * *, to the extent possible, 20
enclosure owner/operators shall submit viable samples collected 21
S. B. No. 2428 *SS26/R816PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R816PS
PAGE 2
ST: White-tailed deer enclosures; enable
testing for CWD by submission of viable samples
or alternative methods for such testing.
from any deer that dies inside an enclosure from causes other than 22
being harvested by hunting, for chronic wasting disease testing. 23
Samples collected from deer whose death occurred for reasons 24
other than hunting shall count toward the total number of required 25
samples. 26
(2) If chronic wasting disease is detected within an 27
enclosure, as defined in Section 49-7-58.1, the commission shall 28
not declare surrounding or adjoining properties within a five (5) 29
mile radius of the enclosure a CWD Management Zone, until chronic 30
wasting disease is positively detected within such radius on these 31
surrounding or adjoining properties. 32
(3) Failure to submit samples pursuant to the rules and 33
regulations promulgated by the commission shall be a violation of 34
those regulations. A first violation of such regulations shall be 35
punishable by a fine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). Each 36
second or subsequent violation shall be punishable by a fine of 37
One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). 38
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 39
and after July 1, 2026. 40