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Committee adopts revised chronic wasting disease rules, raises prevalence threshold and sets sampling cap
Summary
After extended testimony and amendments, the committee approved SCR 24 with a raised prevalence threshold (2.5%), a 300-sample cap per zone and removal criteria; sponsors said the changes reset management zones and aim to balance hunting traditions with disease control.
The House Natural Resources Committee on May 11 adopted amendments to Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 to revise chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance and management rules, and then reported the measure favorable as amended.
Sponsor Representative Rasler (carrying the measure on behalf of Senator Womack) explained the resolution resets the state's approach: it defines new surveillance and management zones (a 5-mile core and a 15-mile management area), establishes an apparent prevalence threshold for triggering management actions and clarifies the surveillance season. After discussion, the committee adopted an amendment (set 5068) that raised the apparent prevalence threshold from 1.5% to 2.5%, established a maximum sampling goal of 300 samples per zone and set removal criteria (three consecutive years without new detections) for management zones.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries counsel Cole Garrett and agency staff answered numerous technical questions on testing logistics and incentives for voluntary sampling; agency witnesses said the department has used state funds (approximately $807,000) and federal USDA grants (about $450,000 over three years) to support CWD testing. Hunters, landowners and industry representatives pressed for sampling incentives and clear boundaries for management areas; Chad Corville of the Natural Resources Management Association urged short-term sample goals and stronger incentives to ensure adequate sample submission in the 5-mile core.
Sponsor Rasler said the amendments were intended to "reset" restrictions across the state to more uniform baseline rules and to avoid overbroad feeding bans in areas with only single detections. Under the amended plan, areas with higher documented prevalence (for example, the initial Tensaw area where survey positives have been concentrated) would still face more restrictive measures when the threshold is met.
The committee debated practical implementation details — how quickly sampling goals can be met, incentives for hunters, and the relationship between farmed/penned deer and wild herds. Members discussed use of voluntary harvest incentives (extra tags, special seasons) and freezers and drop-off points the department has provided in affected zones.
Quote: "We're going to start where everything is open and people are operating under the same rules of engagement," Representative Rasler said; "This will reset things back to how they were before the feeding restrictions were in place, with a 2.5% apparent prevalence trigger for more restrictive measures." Cole Garrett noted the department will cap the number of required samples at 300 per zone and said federal grant funding has supported testing efforts.
What’s next: SCR 24 was reported favorable as amended. The department and sponsors will need to finalize operational guidance (testing goals, sampling rollouts and incentive programs) before the measure's requirements are implemented by rule or agency action.
