House Bill 1440 Summary

• Grants the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks plenary authority to adopt regulations governing all white-tailed deer breeding facilities to conserve native wildlife and protect the recreational economy.

• Permits licensees of white-tailed deer breeding facilities to purchase, sell, or transfer farm-raised white-tailed deer to other licensed breeding farms and permitted high fence hunting enclosures.

• Requires prior commission approval for importation or translocation of live white-tailed deer into Mississippi, with regulations emphasizing disease prevention.

• Clarifies the definition of "deer" to mean white-tailed deer not contained in commercial enclosures or permitted breeding facilities.

• Establishes Class I violations and penalties under Section 49-7-141 for violations of commission regulations regarding deer breeding facilities and wildlife enclosures; removes repeal dates from related statutes.