SF 4715
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/24/2026 10:53 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; exempting elk from live Cervidae importation prohibition;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 35.155, subdivision 12.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 35.155, subdivision 12, is amended
to read:
Subd. 12.
Importation.
(a) A person must not import live Cervidaenew text begin , except elk,new text end into the
state from a state or province where chronic wasting disease has been detected in the farmed
or wild cervid population in the last five years unless the animal has tested not detected for
chronic wasting disease with a validated live-animal test.
(b) Live Cervidae or Cervidae semen must originate from a herd that has been subject
to a state-, federal-, or provincial-approved chronic wasting disease herd certification program
and that has reached a status equivalent to the highest certification.
(c) Cervidae imported in violation of this section may be seized and destroyed by the
commissioner of natural resources.
(d) This subdivision does not apply to the interstate transfer of animals between two
facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
(e) Notwithstanding this subdivision, the commissioner of natural resources may issue
a permit allowing the importation of orphaned wild cervid species that are not susceptible
to chronic wasting disease from another state to an Association of Zoos and Aquariums
accredited institution in Minnesota following a joint risk-based assessment conducted by
the commissioner and the institution.
(f) Notwithstanding this subdivision, the state veterinarian may issue a permit to a zoo
that is a United States Department of Agriculture licensed exhibitor of regulated animals
to import live reindeer from another state if the reindeer are part of a herd that is:
(1) in the United States Department of Agriculture Herd Certification Program; or
(2) subject to similar equivalent disease surveillance at the discretion of the state
veterinarian.