Bills · 2021-2022 Regular Session

AB 163

Became law Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: the authority to shoot a beaver or muskrat causing damage to a highway.

Animal Apprenticeship Firearms and dangerous weapons Natural resources department of — Environmental protection Road

Introduced, completed
Passes Assembly, completed
Passes Senate, completed
Governor signs, completed
Law, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources may remove or

authorize the removal of a wild animal that is causing damage or that is causing a

nuisance. This bill specifies that “damage” includes flooding and culvert blockages

caused by a beaver or muskrat.

Under current law, generally, the DNR removal of a wild animal may involve

capturing, shooting, setting a trap for, relocating, or otherwise destroying or

disposing of the wild animal. However, current law generally prohibits anyone from

discharging a firearm within 50 feet of the center of a roadway. This bill adds an

exception to this prohibition for DNR or an agent of a city, village, town, or county

authorized by DNR to shoot a beaver or muskrat that is causing damage to a highway

in which the roadway is located if the discharge does not pose a risk to public safety.

Votes

Assembly: Report passage recommended by Committee on Transportation, Ayes 12, Noes 1

Passed 12–1 Jun 15, 2021 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Senate: Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 5, Noes 0

Passed 5–0 Jun 22, 2021 official source full page