Senate Bill 2554 Summary

• Requires deer-breeding farm owners to obtain a license from the State Veterinarian prior to operation, with applications including farm location, size, number of deer, and operational plans.

• Grants the State Veterinarian plenary authority to regulate deer-breeding farms and establish requirements for fencing, inspections, space, records, and chronic wasting disease prevention programs.

• Allows importation of farm-raised white-tailed deer, semen, ova, and embryos only from herds certified free of chronic wasting disease for at least 5 years and from states with no history of chronic wasting disease.

• Requires all farm-raised white-tailed deer to be identified with electronic implants before leaving the farm, with imported deer implanted before entry into Mississippi.

• Establishes civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and criminal penalties of up to $1,000 fine and 6 months imprisonment for misdemeanors, or up to $25,000 fine and 5 years imprisonment for felonies involving public safety threats.