HB 1787 Summary

• Prohibits importing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, bartering, or possessing with intent to sell ivory, ivory products, rhinoceros horn, or rhinoceros horn products, with limited exceptions.

• Permits Department of Wildlife Conservation to issue permits for educational or scientific purposes, antiques manufactured before 1975 (less than 20% ivory/horn by volume with historical documentation), and musical instruments or firearms made by 1975 with proper documentation.

• Establishes presumptive evidence of intent to sell when items are found in retail or wholesale outlets; obtaining an appraisal alone does not constitute intent to sell.

• Exempts federal and state government employees conducting law enforcement activities and allows conveyance of these items to legal beneficiaries through estates or inheritance.

• Sets penalties of $1,000 minimum or twice the item value (whichever is greater) for first offense and $5,000 minimum or twice the value for subsequent offenses; courts must seize items and transfer them to the Department of Wildlife Conservation for destruction or donation to educational institutions.