*HB1417.1*
January 29, 2025
HOUSE BILL No. 1417
_____
DIGEST OF HB 1417 (Updated January 29, 2025 10:29 am - DI 148)
Citations Affected: IC 14-22; IC 15-17.
Synopsis: Prevention of chronic wasting disease. Allows 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.
January 29, 2025, amended, reported — Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and
Means pursuant to Rule 126.3.
HB 1417—LS 7634/DI 150 January 29, 2025
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
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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
HB 1417—LS 7634/DI 150 2
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) The Indiana state board of animal health may issue
19 a permit under the pilot program that allows a person to purchase
20 white-tailed deer from a herd that is part of the chronic wasting
21 disease certified herd program.
22 (b) The permit must allow a person to purchase white-tailed
23 deer from a chronic wasting disease certified herd in the months
24 of:
25 (1) February;
26 (2) March; and
27 (3) April.
28 (c) The price of a permit in subsection (a) may not exceed five
29 hundred dollars ($500).
30 Sec. 9. (a) A person may not purchase white-tailed deer from a
31 herd that is part of the chronic wasting disease certified herd
32 program unless the person purchases a permit under section 8 of
33 this chapter.
34 (b) A permit issued under section 8 of this chapter is valid for
35 one (1) year.
36 Sec. 10. An owner who wishes to sell deer under the pilot
37 program shall do the following:
38 (1) Only sell white-tailed deer genetically resistant to chronic
39 wasting disease with a genomically estimated breeding value
40 (GEBV) greater than fifty-six thousandths (0.056).
41 (2) Only sell or offer to sell white-tailed deer to a person
42 between February 1 and April 30 of each year of the pilot
HB 1417—LS 7634/DI 150 3
1 program.
2 Sec. 11. Funds collected from permits purchased under section
3 8 of this chapter shall be:
4 (1) deposited in the captive cervidae programs fund; and
5 (2) used to fund the pilot program.
6 Sec. 12. The department and the Indiana state board of animal
7 health may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement this chapter.
8 Sec. 13. This chapter expires January 1, 2034.
9 SECTION 2. IC 15-17-14.7-16, AS ADDED BY P.L.89-2016,
10 SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
11 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 16. (a) The captive cervidae programs fund is
12 established. The board may use money in the fund to pay the expenses
13 of:
14 (1) administering IC 14-22-34.5, IC 15-17-14.5 and this chapter;
15 and
16 (2) implementing programs to control diseases in cervidae
17 authorized under this article.
18 (b) The fund shall be administered by the board.
19 (c) The fund consists of all fees collected under this chapter and
20 permit fees collected under IC 14-22-34.5-11.
21 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
22 money in the fund.
23 (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
24 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
25 manner as other public money may be invested. Interest that accrues
26 from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
27 (f) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert
28 to the state general fund.
HB 1417—LS 7634/DI 150 4
COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Natural Resources, to which was
referred House Bill 1417, has had the same under consideration and
begs leave to report the same back to the House with the
recommendation that said bill be amended as follows:
Page 2, line 18, delete "Not later than February 1, 2026, the" and
insert "The".
Page 2, line 19, delete "shall" and insert "may".
and when so amended that said bill do pass.
(Reference is to HB 1417 as introduced.)
LINDAUER
Committee Vote: yeas 9, nays 1.
HB 1417—LS 7634/DI 150