SF 654: A bill for an act relating to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, maximum fur dealer license fees, and deer depredation, and making penalties applicable.
SF 654 status: Enacted — Signed by Governor (updated Jun 2, 2026).
What this bill does
Overall score
Bill summary
OfficialA bill for an act relating to wildlife, including the treatment of beaver dams, identification for traps, snares, and tree stands, maximum fur dealer license fees, and deer depredation, and making penalties applicable.. Currently in Senate.
Key analysis
Impact analysis
Environment
Benefits
- Provides clearer identification rules for hunting gear on public land
- Regulates trapping to reduce potential for unintended ecological impact
Risks
- Easier removal of beaver dams may impact local wetland hydrology
- Increased permit accessibility could locally reduce deer populations
Economy
Benefits
- Reduces economic loss for farmers via updated depredation permit criteria
- Caps fur dealer license fees to provide cost predictability
Risks
- Potential costs for hunters to purchase metal identification plates
Society
Benefits
- Clarifies property protection rights for landowners
- Promotes better accountability for hunters on public lands
Risks
- Liability protections for tree stand owners may limit injured party recourse
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
highhigh
Analysis status
LegiScan full bill text
Landowners should verify current permit thresholds before initiating deer depredation actions
Full impact depends on Natural Resource Commission rule-making outcomes
Where it stands
Introduced
CompleteCommittee
CompleteFloor
CompleteGovernor
CompleteEnacted
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