Wisconsin Senate Bill SB891

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/26
• Refer: 1/27/26
• Report Pass: 2/13/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to amend 29.753 (intro.) and 29.753 (3); to create 95.23 (5) and 95.55 (6) (c) of the statutes; Relating to: prohibiting the quarantine of certain animals based on exposure to chronic wasting disease.

Summary

SB 891 would limit the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s authority to quarantine certain animals after exposure to chronic wasting disease (CWD). Under current law, DATCP may quarantine farmed animals when it suspects CWD infection; this bill would bar quarantine when the animal is from a species known to neither carry nor be susceptible to CWD and the quarantine would be based solely on exposure. The bill specifically identifies farm-raised deer of the species Dama dama, commonly known as fallow deer, as covered by this restriction. The bill also makes conforming changes to the state’s elk-importation provisions. It amends the statutory references in s. 29.753 so that the elk importation rules continue to operate alongside the CWD-related requirements in ss. 95.20 and 95.55. In practical terms, the measure narrows state quarantine authority for a limited set of animals while leaving the broader CWD regulatory framework in place for species that can carry or are susceptible to the disease.

Impact

SB 891 would amend Wisconsin statutes governing animal disease control and farmed deer regulation by creating new exceptions to DATCP quarantine authority. It would add a new prohibition in s. 95.23 and a specific carveout in s. 95.55 for farm-raised fallow deer, preventing quarantine based only on exposure to CWD where the species is not known to carry or be susceptible to the disease. The bill would therefore affect DATCP enforcement discretion, farm-raised deer owners, and potentially other animal owners whose species are similarly exempted by the new general rule.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or vote breakdown, so there is no detailed public debate to summarize. Based on the bill text and its introduction, the measure appears to reflect a targeted regulatory relief approach rather than a broad policy overhaul. Its failure to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 suggests it did not advance to enactment, but the context provided does not indicate whether that was due to substantive opposition, procedural timing, or broader legislative priorities.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the balance between disease-control authority and limits on state quarantine power. Supporters would likely argue that quarantining species not known to carry or be susceptible to CWD is unnecessary and burdensome, especially for farm-raised fallow deer. Opponents, if any, would likely focus on preserving DATCP’s flexibility to respond to disease exposure events and avoiding statutory carveouts that could complicate enforcement or create uncertainty in animal health regulation. No specific stakeholder positions are provided in the record.