Minnesota SF 4841: Physical contact between farmed Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae prevention fencing requirement removal and registration revocation under certain circumstances authority removal

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to agriculture; removing requirement that fencing prevent physical contact​
1.3 between farmed Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae; removing authority to revoke​
1.4 registrations under certain conditions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section​
1.5 35.155, subdivision 4.​
1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.155, subdivision 4, is amended to read:​
1.8 Subd. 4.Fencing.Farmed Cervidae must be confined in a manner designed to prevent​
1.9 escape. All perimeter fences for farmed Cervidae must be at least 96 inches in height and​
1.10 be constructed and maintained in a way that prevents the escape of farmed Cervidae, and​
1.11 entry into the premises by free-roaming Cervidae, and physical contact between farmed​
1.12 Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae. The Board of Animal Health or commissioner of​
1.13 natural resources may determine whether the construction and maintenance of fencing is​
1.14 adequate to prevent physical contact or escape under this subdivision and may compel​
1.15 corrective action when fencing is determined to be inadequate. All new fencing installed​
1.16 and all fencing used to repair deficiencies must be high tensile. All entry areas for farmed​
1.17 Cervidae enclosure areas must have two redundant gates, which must be maintained to​
1.18 prevent the escape of animals through an open gate. If a fence deficiency allows entry or​
1.19 exit by farmed or wild Cervidae, the owner must immediately repair the deficiency. All​
1.20 other deficiencies must be repaired within a reasonable time, as determined by the Board​
1.21 of Animal Health, not to exceed 14 days. If a fence deficiency is detected during an​
1.22 inspection, the facility must be reinspected at least once in the subsequent three months.​
1.23 The farmed Cervidae owner must pay a reinspection fee equal to one-half the applicable​
1.24 annual inspection fee under subdivision 7a for each reinspection related to a fence violation.​
1​Section 1.​
25-03034 as introduced​01/30/25 REVISOR BD/HL​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 4841​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: GREEN, Wesenberg and Johnson)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​6987​03/25/2026​
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development​

2.1 If the facility experiences more than one escape incident in any six-month period or fails​
2.2 to correct a deficiency found during an inspection, the board may revoke the facility's​
2.3 registration and order the owner to remove or destroy the animals as directed by the board.​
2.4 If the board revokes a facility's registration, the commissioner of natural resources may​
2.5 seize and destroy animals at the facility.​
2​Section 1.​
25-03034 as introduced​01/30/25 REVISOR BD/HL​