SB323 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Game breeder license; possessory interest in deer established; killing, testing, prohibition of transfer of deer by state agencies for disease prohibited, subject to exceptions

Summary

SB323 would make deer held by licensed game breeders the breeders' personal property and limit state agencies' ability to kill, test, or restrict transfers of those cervids due to disease, with defined exceptions.

What This Bill Does

The bill states that cervids owned by licensed game breeders are the licensee's personal property and restricts state agencies from killing, testing, or prohibiting transfers of these deer due to disease except under specific conditions. It defines what counts as protected game animals and cervids, and establishes a licensing and fee structure for game breeders, including tiered fees for cervids. It also adds non-substantive, technical updates to current law and takes effect immediately.

Who It Affects

• Licensed game breeders and their businesses, who would own the cervids they raise as personal property and must pay license fees according to the new schedule.
• State agencies (e.g., the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), whose authority to kill, test, or restrict transfers of cervids is narrowed and subject to specified exceptions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits state agencies from killing, testing, or restricting the transfer of cervids due to disease, except when a disease is detected in another cervid possessed by or under the care of the licensee or when the cervid was epidemiologically linked to a diseased cervid transferred from another licensee.
• Defines cervid and protected game animals and game birds, establishes a license framework for game breeders with fees ($250 base; $250 for 1st 50 cervids, $500 for 51-100, $1,000 for more than 100; based on animals on hand as of April 1), and states that cervids possessed by a licensee on October 1, 2025 become the licensee's personal property; the act takes effect immediately and includes technical updates to language.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals