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S. B. No. 2656 *SS26/R1006* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
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To: Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Suber
SENATE BILL NO. 2656
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-58.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT THERE SHALL BE NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR ANY 2
ENCLOSURE CONTAINING WHITE-TAILED DEER THAT PREVENTS THE FREE 3
EGRESS OF THE DEER FROM THE ENCLOSED AREA; TO DELETE REQUIREMENTS 4
FOR TESTING DEER WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE; 5
TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-58.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE 6
PROVISIONS REGARDING SAMPLING DEER HARVESTED OR DYING FROM 7
NONHUNTING RELATED CAUSES WITHIN AN ENCLOSURE; TO REPEAL SECTION 8
49-7-58.6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH IS THE PROVISION OF LAW 9
THAT REQUIRES WHITE-TAILED DEER HARVESTED WITHIN ANY ENCLOSURE TO 10
BE TESTED FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, IS REPEALED; AND FOR 11
RELATED PURPOSES. 12
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 13
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-58.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 14
amended as follows: 15
49-7-58.1. (1) The owner of any enclosure containing 16
white-tailed deer that prevents the free egress of white-tailed 17
deer from the enclosed area shall notify and register with the 18
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. There shall be no 19
registration fee for any such enclosure. The person shall give 20
his name, the location of the enclosure, the acreage within the 21
enclosure, and whether any deer have been imported into the state 22
S. B. No. 2656 *SS26/R1006* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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and placed in the enclosure, and any other information required by 23
the Commissioner on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. 24
(2) Persons who constructed an enclosure prior to July 1, 25
2003, shall have until January 1, 2004, to notify and provide the 26
information required under this section. The person shall use 27
acceptable hunting and wildlife management practices as may be 28
determined by the department. 29
(3) The owner of such an enclosure shall comply with all 30
rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission on Wildlife, 31
Fisheries and Parks * * *, except there shall be no requirement to 32
test white-tailed deer inside the enclosure, including those that 33
die of natural causes within breeding pens, for chronic wasting 34
disease, or to submit samples of deer from within the enclosure 35
for chronic wasting disease testing. 36
(4) Violations of this section shall be punishable as 37
provided in Section 49-7-58.6. 38
SECTION 2. Section 49-7-58.2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 39
amended as follows: 40
49-7-58.2. * * * The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and 41
Parks shall develop and implement a program for inspecting, 42
monitoring, testing and preventing chronic wasting disease. * * * 43
However, no program shall authorize testing white-tailed deer 44
inside an enclosure, including those that die of natural causes 45
within breeding pens, for chronic wasting disease, or to submit 46
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ST: White-tailed deer enclosures; prohibit
registration fees and certain requirements
related to chronic wasting disease testing for.
samples of deer from within the enclosure for chronic wasting 47
disease testing. 48
SECTION 3. Section 49-7-58.6, Mississippi Code of 1972, 49
which is the provision of law that requires white-tailed deer 50
harvested within any enclosure to be tested for chronic wasting 51
disease, is repealed. 52
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 53
and after July 1, 2026. 54