1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to agriculture; modifying fencing requirements for farmed Cervidae;
1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.155, subdivision 4.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.155, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.6 Subd. 4.Fencing.Farmed Cervidae must be confined in a manner designed to prevent
1.7escape. All perimeter fences for farmed Cervidae must be at least 96 inches in height and
1.8be constructed and maintained in a way that prevents the escape of farmed Cervidae, and
1.9entry into the premises by free-roaming Cervidae, and physical contact between farmed
1.10Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae. Perimeter fences must also prevent physical contact
1.11between farmed Cervidae and free-roaming Cervidae, but only at facilities where the state
1.12has paid the costs of fence installation to meet this requirement. The Board of Animal Health
1.13or commissioner of natural resources may determine whether the construction and
1.14maintenance of fencing is adequate to prevent physical contact or escape under this
1.15subdivision and may compel corrective action when fencing is determined to be inadequate.
1.16All new fencing installed and all fencing used to repair deficiencies must be high tensile.
1.17All entry areas for farmed Cervidae enclosure areas must have two redundant gates, which
1.18must be maintained to prevent the escape of animals through an open gate. If a fence
1.19deficiency allows entry or exit by farmed or wild Cervidae, the owner must immediately
1.20repair the deficiency. All other deficiencies must be repaired within a reasonable time, as
1.21determined by the Board of Animal Health, not to exceed 14 days. If a fence deficiency is
1.22detected during an inspection, the facility must be reinspected at least once in the subsequent
1.23three months. The farmed Cervidae owner must pay a reinspection fee equal to one-half the
1Section 1.
S0553-1 1st EngrossmentSF553 REVISOR BD
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 553NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: WESENBERG, Westrom, Anderson and Eichorn)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading15901/23/2025
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development
Comm report: Amended, No recommendation, re-referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy02/03/2025 2.1applicable annual inspection fee under subdivision 7a for each reinspection related to a
2.2fence violation. If the facility experiences more than one escape incident in any six-month
2.3period or fails to correct a deficiency found during an inspection, the board may revoke the
2.4facility's registration and order the owner to remove or destroy the animals as directed by
2.5the board. If the board revokes a facility's registration, the commissioner of natural resources
2.6may seize and destroy animals at the facility.
2Section 1.
S0553-1 1st EngrossmentSF553 REVISOR BD