The act removes the phrase "or sheep" from provisions of law relating to certain animals running at large.

The act repeals a definition for "feral hog" and replaces it with a definition for "feral swine". Additionally, the term "feral hog" is replaced with "feral swine" throughout the act.

Any person who recklessly or knowingly releases any swine to live in a wild or feral state may be sentenced to pay a fine up to $2,000.

Provisions of law relating to the release of feral swine shall not be construed to criminalize the release of domestic swine into a facility under a Department of Conservation permit or to hinder the ability to transport domestic swine to market or slaughter.

Any person possessing or transporting feral swine on or through public land is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any person shall be found guilty of a Class E felony if he or she has has previously been found guilty of possessing or transporting feral swine on or through public land within ten years of the date of the occurrence of the present offense and is subsequently found guilty.

Provisions of law relating to the possession or transportation of feral swine shall not apply to the possession of the offspring of domestic swine that are unintentionally sired by feral swine and are reported to the state veterinarian as set forth in the act.

Any person who takes or kills a feral swine on public or private land without the consent of the landowner or with the use of an artificial light or thermal imagery is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Finally, the act repeals rulemaking authority for the Director of the Department of Agriculture for health standards for certain wild swine and repeals provisions of law creating the Animal Health Fund.

This act is identical to provisions contained in the truly agreed SS/HCS/HB 369 (2021) and similar to SCS/SB 236 (2021), SB 1059 (2020), and HCS/HB 1798 (2020).

JAMIE ANDREWS