Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1417
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 14-22-34.5; IC 15-17-14.7-16.
Synopsis: Prevention of chronic wasting disease. Requires the
department of natural resources and the state board of animal health to
establish a pilot program to combat chronic wasting disease in deer.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Morris, Baird
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
2025 IN 1417—LS 7634/DI 150 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1417
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
natural and cultural resources.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 14-22-34.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 34.5. Chronic Wasting Disease Pilot Program
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "chronic wasting disease" means
6 a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that infects deer and
7 causes a deer to develop lesions in the brain and experience:
8 (1) the loss of body condition;
9 (2) behavioral changes;
10 (3) excessive salivation;
11 (4) increased drinking and urination;
12 (5) depression; and
13 (6) death.
14 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "chronic wasting disease certified
15 herd program" means the program described in 345 IAC 2-7-4.
16 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "genomically estimated breeding
17 value (GEBV)" means a statistically generated number or score
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1 that estimates the total genetic potential of an animal with respect
2 to heritable traits.
3 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "owner" means a person who
4 owns a white-tailed deer herd participating in the chronic wasting
5 disease certified herd program.
6 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "pilot program" means the
7 chronic wasting disease pilot program established under section 6
8 of this chapter.
9 Sec. 6. Not later than December 31, 2025, the department and
10 the Indiana state board of animal health shall establish the chronic
11 wasting disease pilot program to enhance the genetic durability of
12 Indiana's white-tailed deer population.
13 Sec. 7. Beginning January 1, 2026, the department shall collect
14 DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) samples of native, free-range
15 white-tailed deer to establish a baseline of average genetic codon
16 markers and genomic breeding values for native, free-range
17 Indiana white-tailed deer.
18 Sec. 8. (a) Not later than February 1, 2026, the Indiana state
19 board of animal health shall issue a permit under the pilot
20 program that allows a person to purchase white-tailed deer from
21 a herd that is part of the chronic wasting disease certified herd
22 program.
23 (b) The permit must allow a person to purchase white-tailed
24 deer from a chronic wasting disease certified herd in the months
25 of:
26 (1) February;
27 (2) March; and
28 (3) April.
29 (c) The price of a permit in subsection (a) may not exceed five
30 hundred dollars ($500).
31 Sec. 9. (a) A person may not purchase white-tailed deer from a
32 herd that is part of the chronic wasting disease certified herd
33 program unless the person purchases a permit under section 8 of
34 this chapter.
35 (b) A permit issued under section 8 of this chapter is valid for
36 one (1) year.
37 Sec. 10. An owner who wishes to sell deer under the pilot
38 program shall do the following:
39 (1) Only sell white-tailed deer genetically resistant to chronic
40 wasting disease with a genomically estimated breeding value
41 (GEBV) greater than fifty-six thousandths (0.056).
42 (2) Only sell or offer to sell white-tailed deer to a person
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1 between February 1 and April 30 of each year of the pilot
2 program.
3 Sec. 11. Funds collected from permits purchased under section
4 8 of this chapter shall be:
5 (1) deposited in the captive cervidae programs fund; and
6 (2) used to fund the pilot program.
7 Sec. 12. The department and the Indiana state board of animal
8 health may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter.
9 Sec. 13. This chapter expires January 1, 2034.
10 SECTION 2. IC 15-17-14.7-16, AS ADDED BY P.L.89-2016,
11 SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
12 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16. (a) The captive cervidae programs fund is
13 established. The board may use money in the fund to pay the expenses
14 of:
15 (1) administering IC 14-22-34.5, IC 15-17-14.5 and this chapter;
16 and
17 (2) implementing programs to control diseases in cervidae
18 authorized under this article.
19 (b) The fund shall be administered by the board.
20 (c) The fund consists of all fees collected under this chapter and
21 permit fees collected under IC 14-22-34.5-11.
22 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
23 money in the fund.
24 (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
25 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
26 manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accrues
27 from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
28 (f) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert
29 to the state general fund.
2025 IN 1417—LS 7634/DI 150