2025 -- S 0864
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LC002560
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- HUNTING AND HUNTING SAFETY--WILDLIFE
KILLING CONTEST
Introduced By: Senators Britto, McKenney, and Appollonio
Date Introduced: March 21, 2025
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 20-13 of the General Laws entitled "Hunting and Hunting Safety" is 1
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
20-13-19. Wildlife killing contest prohibited. 3
(a) As used in this section, "wildlife killing contest", also referred to as predator hunting 4
contests, challenges, drives, tournaments, or derbies, means a contest, organized competition, 5
tournament, or derby that has as its objective the taking or hunting of any furbearers, as defined by 6
§ 20-16-1, on state or private land, for cash, prizes, or other inducement. 7
(b) A person, organization, or business shall not organize, sponsor, promote, conduct, or 8
participate in any wildlife killing contest in this state. 9
(c) The prohibition in subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to: 10
(1) Field trials permitted by the department under §§ 20-19-1 through 20-19-4; 11
(2) Wildlife damage control activities authorized under § 20-1-24, as long as those 12
activities do not take place during a contest, organized competition, tournament, or derby; and 13
(3) Lawful hunting or trapping activities authorized under §§ 20-1-4; 20-1-8; 20-1-12; and 14
20-1-13, as long as those activities do not take place during a contest, organized competition, or 15
derby. 16
(d) A person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred 17
dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a first offense. Upon a second 18
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and all subsequent convictions related to violations of subsection (b) of this section, or any 1
conviction while their hunting license is suspended, a person who violates this section shall be fined 2
a minimum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). 3
(e) An organization or business which violates this section shall be fined not less than one 4
thousand dollars ($1,000) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a first offense. Upon 5
a second and all subsequent convictions related to violations of subsection (b) of this section an 6
organization or business which violates this section shall be fined not less than five thousand dollars 7
($5,000) and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). 8
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 9
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- HUNTING AND HUNTING SAFETY--WILDLIFE
KILLING CONTEST
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This act would ban wildlife killing contests on both public and private lands in the state. 1
Penalties for violations for individuals start at five hundred dollars ($500) and increase for repeat 2
offenders. Penalties for businesses and organizations start at one thousand dollars ($1,000) and 3
increase for repeat offenders or while under license suspension. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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