HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3282        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 999

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Christopher M. Markey

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a deer population control commission.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Christopher M. Markey

9th Bristol

1/17/2025

Steven J. Ouellette

8th Bristol

2/6/2025

Christopher Hendricks

11th Bristol

2/4/2025

David T. Vieira

3rd Barnstable

2/5/2025

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

2/5/2025

Mark D. Sylvia

10th Bristol

5/2/2025

John R. Gaskey

2nd Plymouth

10/22/2025

Adam J. Scanlon

14th Bristol

10/23/2025

Paul R. Feeney

Bristol and Norfolk

10/31/2025


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3282        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 999

By Representative Markey of Dartmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 999) of Christopher M. Markey and others for an investigation and study by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to deer population control.  Environment and Natural Resources.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 858 OF 2023-2024.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

 

An Act establishing a deer population control commission.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary, there shall be established a commission called the deer population control commission, hereinafter referred to as the commission, for the purpose of identifying best practices and methods for controlling the deer population in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Berkshire, Hampden, Worcester, Franklin, and Hampshire Counties.

The commission shall be made up of 6 members: 1 member of the Senate, whom shall be appointed by the Senate President; 1 member of the House of Representatives, whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1 member representing local Rod and Gun Clubs, who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Bow Hunters Association; 1 member representing the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Resources; 1 member representing the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife, who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1 licensed automobile insurance broker representing the insurance industry, who shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents.

The commission shall recommend best practices for controlling the Commonwealth’s deer population and methods for assisting farmers in preventing and combating property damage caused by deer.  The commission shall file its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, with the Clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture no later than March 1, 2024.