HB 3270: Farmed cervidae; Farmed Cervidae Act; exempting certain actions from violating act; deer; genetic resistance; release into native populations; permits; changing department that issues to Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; emergency. - Oklahoma

House Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from a Committee Substitute version to the House Floor version, primarily changing the header to reflect the current legislative session and adding co-sponsor information. The substantive policy text regarding the Chronic Wasting Disease Genetic Improvement Act, including the pilot program details, release dates, and permit fees, remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; only the document metadata and formatting were updated.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header to indicate this is the 'Floor Version' of the bill for the 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026).

Added 'Humphrey of the House' as a co-sponsor alongside the existing sponsors in the bill title.

Reformatted the page headers and footers to match the standard House Floor version layout.

Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 → House Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift focus from feral swine control to managing farmed deer and Chronic Wasting Disease. The primary change is transferring regulatory authority from the Department of Wildlife Conservation to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. It now allows for a pilot program to release specific deer with genetic resistance to Chronic Wasting Disease into native populations, a capability that was previously restricted.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from regulating feral swine transport and release to regulating farmed cervidae (deer) and establishing a genetic improvement pilot program for deer.

ENFORCEMENT

Regulatory authority over farmed cervidae and the Chronic Wasting Disease pilot program was transferred from the Department of Wildlife Conservation to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

ELIGIBILITY

A new pilot program was added allowing the release of bred deer with specific genetic resistance (SS allele at codon 96 and specific genomic breeding values) into native cervidae populations.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were established for the Department of Agriculture to collect DNA samples and establish baseline genetic markers for native white-tailed deer in specific geographic zones.

A one-time permit fee of up to $500 was authorized for citizens purchasing deer released through the new genetic improvement pilot program.

SCOPE

All provisions regarding the testing, intrastate movement, and release of feral swine were removed from the bill.

TIMELINE

The pilot program for genetic improvement was set to begin no later than November 1, 2024, with deer releases allowed starting in 2026.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Proposed Policy Committee Substitute 1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to change its subject matter from regulating farmed deer to regulating feral swine. The new version shifts authority from the Department of Wildlife Conservation to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, and adds specific rules for transporting and releasing feral pigs.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from managing farmed cervidae (deer) to controlling feral swine (pigs/hogs).

SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to farmed deer, including a pilot program for genetic resistance to Chronic Wasting Disease and rules about commingling native and farmed deer.

Added new provisions specifically governing the testing, intrastate movement, and release of feral swine.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the enforcing agency from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for anyone transporting live feral swine to obtain a transporter license from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

Restructured the rules for releasing feral swine, allowing release only into licensed sporting facilities, onto the same private land where the animal was trapped, or within 24 hours of capture.

ELIGIBILITY

Limited where live feral swine can be transported to licensed sporting facilities, licensed handling facilities, approved slaughter facilities, or upon order of the State Veterinarian.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act from an unspecified time in the original deer bill to November 1, 2026.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was replaced with a new version submitted by the House Committee, which includes a formal amendment motion to delete the entire original measure and insert new language. The substantive policy content regarding farmed cervidae and chronic wasting disease appears to remain consistent with the original text, though the document structure has been updated to reflect the committee's review process.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal amendment motion header indicating the committee intends to delete the entire bill and re-insert it with new language.

Removed the original 'Engrossed' status and the full list of sponsors from the header.

Changed the document title from 'Engrossed House Bill' to 'Proposed Committee Substitute' and updated the page numbering format from 'ENGR.' to 'Req.'.

Added a footer line containing a reference number (60-2-16542) and a date (02/19/26) to the bottom of the document.

REMOVED

Removed the original passage and approval dates for the House and Senate.

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to shift its focus from a general 'Game and Fish Act' to a specific 'Farmed Cervidae Act.' It replaces the previous department responsible for permits (Wildlife Conservation) with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. The new text establishes a pilot program to breed deer with genetic resistance to Chronic Wasting Disease and allows these specific deer to be released into wild populations starting in 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from general game and fish regulations to specifically targeting farmed deer and a genetic improvement pilot program.

SCOPE

The bill title and subject matter changed from 'Oklahoma Game and Fish Act' to 'Oklahoma Farmed Cervidae Act'.

ENFORCEMENT

The department issuing permits and enforcing rules changed from the Department of Wildlife Conservation to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

ELIGIBILITY

A new pilot program was added to breed deer with specific genetic resistance (SS allele at codon 96) to Chronic Wasting Disease.

REQUIREMENT

New rules allow bred deer meeting specific genetic criteria to be released into native wild deer populations beginning in 2026.

Updated the list of unlawful acts to include refusing inspections, commingling native and farmed deer, and failing to maintain records or fencing.

FISCAL

A one-time permit fee of up to $500 was established for citizens purchasing deer from the genetic improvement pilot program.

TIMELINE

The effective date and specific program start dates were updated to align with the new pilot program timeline (starting 2026).

Farmed cervidae; Farmed Cervidae Act; exempting certain actions from violating act; deer; genetic resistance; release into native populations; permits; changing department that issues to Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; emergency.

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