2021 Senate BILL 563

September 15, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Testin and Felzkowski, cosponsored by Representatives Mursau and Edming. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues.

SB563,2,2 An Act to renumber and amend 29.875 (1g); to amend 29.011 (3), 29.047 (2) (b), 29.055, 29.057, 29.334 (3), 29.354 (5), 29.357 (5) (b), 29.539 (1m) (d), 29.541 (3), 29.875 (1r), 29.875 (2), 29.885 (1) (f), 29.969, 29.971 (14), 29.974 (2) (a), 77.54 (62), 90.20 (title), 90.20 (2) (intro.), 90.20 (2) (e), 91.01 (20m), 93.73 (1m) (dm), 95.001 (1) (ad) 2., 95.185 (2), 95.25 (1), 95.25 (2), 95.25 (5), 95.26 (5m) (a), 95.26 (5m) (b), 95.26 (7), 95.30, 95.31 (3), 95.31 (4), 95.33, 95.40 (1), 95.41 (2), 95.42, 95.51 (1), 95.51 (2) (a) 1., 95.55 (title), 95.55 (1) (a), 95.55 (1) (b) 1., 95.55 (1) (b) 2., 95.55 (1) (c) (intro.), 95.55 (1) (c) 1., 95.55 (3) (b) 1., 95.55 (3) (b) 3., 95.55 (3m) (a), 95.55 (3m) (b), 95.55 (4), 95.55 (5) (a), 95.55 (5) (b), 95.55 (5) (bn) 1., 95.55 (5) (bn) 2., 95.55 (5) (c), 95.55 (6) (a), 95.55 (6) (b) 1., 95.68 (1) (d), 95.80 (1) (b), 97.42 (1) (bg), 97.42 (1) (em), 97.42 (3) (em), 97.42 (4) (em), 97.44 (3), 100.04 (1), 169.01 (7), 174.001 (3) and 943.76 (1) (a); and to create 29.001 (25s), 29.875 (1g) (b), 90.20 (1) (am), 95.001 (1) (aim), 97.42 (1) (ds), 169.01 (12s) and 951.09 (3) (cm) of the statutes; relating to: farm-raised game bovids.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes numerous changes so that farm-raised game bovids are treated in the same manner as farm-raised deer. The bill defines “farm-raised game bovid” as animals kept in captivity to be hunted that are members of the taxonomic family bovidae, which includes animals more commonly known as bison, buffalo, sheep, goats, and antelopes.

Under current law, there are many requirements and restrictions relating to wild animals, including those relating to hunting, killing, possessing, transporting, selling, serving, and stealing wild animals. However, these requirements and restrictions generally do not apply to farm-raised deer. The bill exempts farm-raised game bovids from these requirements and restrictions and specifically allows the hunting of farm-raised game bovids without a license.

The bill requires farm-raised game bovids to be fenced in the same manner as farm-raised deer other than white-tailed deer. The bill also treats farm-raised game bovids in the same manner as farm-raised deer for the purpose of sales taxes; farmland preservation and the purchase of agricultural conservation easements; various trade regulation provisions, such as the misrepresentation of animal breeds; disease control, with the exception that farm-raised game bovids are not required to be tested for chronic wasting disease; premises registration; voluntary tagging; indemnity payments for condemned animals; animal market licensing; slaughtering; and the seizure and disposal of escaped animals.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB563,1 Section 1. 29.001 (25s) of the statutes is created to read:

SB563,2,5 29.001 (25s) “Farm-raised game bovid" has the meaning given in s. 95.001 (1) (aim).

SB563,2 Section 2. 29.011 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB563,2,9 29.011 (3) This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game bovids, farm-raised game birds, farm-raised fish, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

SB563,3 Section 3. 29.047 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB563,3,4 29.047 (2) (b) The possession, transportation, delivery or receipt of farm-raised deer, farm-raised game bovids, farm-raised game birds, farm-raised fish, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

SB563,4 Section 4. 29.055 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB563,3,15 29.055 Wild animals; possession in closed season or in excess of bag limit. Except as expressly provided in this chapter, no person may have in the person's possession or under the person's control, or have in storage, any wild animal or carcass that was taken during the closed season for that wild animal or that is in excess of the bag or possession limit or contrary to the size limits for that wild animal. The open and closed seasons and the bag, possession and size limits of the state, province or country in which a wild animal was taken shall apply to the wild animal or the carcass if it was lawfully killed outside of this state. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game bovids, farm-raised fish, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

SB563,5 Section 5. 29.057 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB563,3,22 29.057 Wild animals; possession in open season. It is unlawful to possess or control at any time a protected wild animal or the carcass of any protected wild animal showing that it was taken during the closed season for the protected wild animal. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game bovids, farm-raised fish, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

SB563,6 Section 6. 29.334 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB563,4,3 29.334 (3) This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game bovids, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.

SB563,7 Section 7. 29.354 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB563,4,8 29.354 (5) Captive wild animals. This section does not apply to farm-raised deer, farm-raised game bovids, farm-raised fish, fish produced in a municipal fish hatchery, farm-raised game birds, or wild animals that are subject to regulation under ch. 169.