Signed by Governor Kay Ivey

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that prohibits Alabama state agencies from killing, testing, or restricting the transfer of game breeder-owned cervids, like deer, due to disease, except in specific cases.

Highlights:

• Prohibits Alabama state agencies from any of the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Requiring the killing of a cervid due to a disease;

• Requiring testing of a cervid for disease while it’s still alive; or

• Prohibiting the selling or transferring of a cervid if it has already tested negative for the disease, its genetic test shows low disease risk, or it is coming from a premises that is double-fenced.

• Specifies that state agencies are exempt from the provisions of this bill for certain reasons to be concerned about disease, including the following (Sec. 1):

• A disease has been found in another cervid owned by the same person; or

• The cervid came from someone else whose animals were infected.

• Specifies that all cervids possessed by an individual with a license as of October 1, 2025, and their offspring, are considered private property of the licensee and not property of the state (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval (Sec. 2). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits Alabama state agencies from killing, testing, or restricting the transfer of game breeder-owned cervids, like deer, due to disease, except in specific cases.

Highlights:

• Prohibits Alabama state agencies from any of the following, including (Sec. 1):

• Requiring the killing of a cervid due to a disease;

• Requiring testing of a cervid for disease while it’s still alive; or

• Prohibiting the selling or transferring of a cervid if it has already tested negative for the disease, its genetic test shows low disease risk, or it is coming from a premises that is double-fenced.

• Specifies that state agencies are exempt from the provisions of this bill for certain reasons to be concerned about disease, including the following (Sec. 1):

• A disease has been found in another cervid owned by the same person; or

• The cervid came from someone else whose animals were infected.

• Specifies that all cervids possessed by an individual with a license as of October 1, 2025, and their offspring, are considered private property of the licensee and not property of the state (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval (Sec. 2). 

Full Bill Text