HB 326: Animal Depredation Amendments - Utah

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to shift focus from general agricultural depredation to specific egg industry regulations and feral swine control. The new version adds detailed definitions for egg quality and producer sizes, grants the department authority to collect fees for egg administration, and clarifies rules for aerial hunting of coyotes and vehicle forfeiture for feral swine crimes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific regulations for shell egg producers (defining 'large' vs 'small' producers and end consumers) while retaining and refining provisions for wildlife damage prevention and feral swine penalties.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for egg industry terms including 'addled', 'adherent yolk', 'albumen', 'black rot', 'black spot', 'blood ring', 'end consumer', 'large producer', and 'small producer'.

Modified the definition of 'feral swine' to include specific species and phenotypic characteristics, while redefining 'swine' to exclude feral types.

FISCAL

Granted the Department of Agriculture and Food authority to collect fees for the administration and enforcement of egg regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the previous requirement for the department to establish egg grades with a mandate to make rules for administering and enforcing the chapter.

Changed the annual predator control fee structure to be determined annually by the board rather than fixed statutory amounts.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing peace officers to seize and forfeit vehicles used in feral swine crimes, including public sale of the vehicle.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified eligibility for aerial hunting permits to specifically target coyotes on private land with written permission from the landowner.

Amended 2/17/2026 09:02:536 → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's animal depredation laws to modernize definitions, introduce aerial hunting permits specifically for coyotes, and tighten regulations on feral swine. It shifts focus from broad 'predatory' terms to specific 'depredating' definitions and adds new fees for livestock to fund damage prevention. The bill also strengthens enforcement by allowing vehicle forfeiture for feral swine crimes and clarifying liability for aerial hunting accidents.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of aerial hunting to include coyotes taken from aircraft and broadens the definition of 'agricultural production' to include processing. It also narrows the scope of 'feral swine' enforcement to specific species and behaviors while adding new civil liabilities for owners.

DEFINITION

Replaced general terms like 'predatory animal' with specific 'depredating animal' definitions and added a new definition for 'agricultural production' to clarify what activities are covered.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a new permit and license system allowing private pilots to hunt coyotes from aircraft on specific lands to prevent agricultural damage.

FISCAL

Established new annual fees on sheep, goats, cattle, and turkeys to help fund the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing peace officers to seize and forfeit vehicles used in feral swine crimes and expanded the authority to kill feral swine in specific threat scenarios.

REQUIREMENT

Changed liability rules so that anyone holding an aerial hunting permit or license assumes full responsibility for accidents or injuries caused during the activity.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of repealed statutes and adjusted effective dates for various sections of the code.

Amended Excerpts 2/17/2026 09:02:536 → Amended 2/17/2026 09:02:536 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill rewrites the definitions and responsibilities for agricultural damage prevention in Utah, replacing specific lists of animals with broader functional definitions based on the harm they cause. It introduces new authority for the state to issue permits for hunting coyotes from aircraft and establishes a new fee structure on livestock to fund predator control. The changes aim to modernize the legal framework for managing wildlife conflicts with agriculture.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of regulated animals from a fixed list of specific species to any animal causing damage to agricultural production or wildlife, and adds aerial hunting as a new authorized method for control.

DEFINITION

Redefined 'Agricultural production' to include processing, and updated 'Damage' and 'Depredating animal' to focus on the act of causing harm rather than listing specific species like raccoons or starlings.

ELIGIBILITY

Authorized the Department of Agriculture to issue permits and licenses specifically for hunting coyotes from aircraft.

FISCAL

Granted the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board the authority to set an annual fee on sheep, goats, cattle, and turkey to fund predator control efforts.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the Board's responsibilities to approve methods for controlling depredating animals, including the use of aircraft, and modified how the department reviews accounts for organizations receiving damage prevention funds.

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 2/17/2026 09:02:536 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's agricultural damage prevention laws to clarify definitions, establish a new aerial hunting program specifically for coyotes, and tighten regulations on feral swine. The changes expand the definition of 'taking' to include possession and harassment, restrict aerial hunting to coyotes only, and increase penalties for releasing or hunting feral swine.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include 'possession' and 'harassment' as forms of animal depredation and narrowed the aerial hunting program to apply only to coyotes.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'taking' was broadened to include hunting, pursuing, harassing, catching, capturing, possessing, gathering, angling, seining, trapping, or killing, as well as attempting any of these actions.

The definition of 'feral swine' was updated to include specific species like Javalina and Peccary, and clarified criteria for identifying roaming animals.

ELIGIBILITY

Aerial hunting permits and licenses are now restricted exclusively to the taking of coyotes from aircraft to prevent damage to agricultural production.

ENFORCEMENT

Penalties for releasing swine for hunting or possessing feral swine were increased from a class B misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

New provisions allow for the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles used in the commission of crimes related to feral swine.

REQUIREMENT

The department's authority to suspend or revoke aerial hunting permits was expanded to include instances where false information was provided or willful detrimental conduct occurred.

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