SB 446, sponsored by Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge), was passed by both chambers to permanently extend the authority of the Natural Resources Commission to regulate deer and elk feeding, which is critical to preventing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Michigan. That authority was set to expire on January 1, 2016. Another bill to help the fight against CWD, HB 5146, was introduced by Rep. John Kivela (D-Marquette) this week. HB 5146 will increase the penalties to illegally importing deer carcasses into Michigan from a CWD-positive state. The bill will help the DNR’s efforts to “Keep the U.P. CWD Free.”
