SB1431: Reimbursement Plan for Farmed Deer Losses

No safety net for deer farmers: Oklahoma bill rejected

This article was written with the assistance of ai software*

Photo byBenjamin RaffetsederonUnsplash

What did SB1431 want to accomplish?

SB1431 wanted to make some changes to the rules about raising certain animals like deer on farms in Oklahoma.

It says that if a farm that raises these animals has to get rid of them (maybe because of health reasons or legal rules), the farm owner can ask the state government for some money to help cover the loss. The owner can get back up to 25% of what the animals were worth.

The Department of Agriculture would also have created new rules to decide how much the animals were worth and how the owners will get their money.

• Reimbursement: This means the farm owner could have gotten some money back when they had to get rid of animals.
• Promulgation of rules: The Department of Agriculture would make new rules to decide how this will work.

What kind of animals are in the cervidae family?

Animals in the Cervidae family are commonly known as deer. Some examples include:

• White-tailed deer
• Elk
• Moose
• Reindeer (also called caribou)
• Red deer
• Mule deer
• Fallow deer

These animals are all part of the deer family and share certain characteristics, like having hooves and antlers.

Who would have benefited from this law?

✔️Farmers and ranchers raising cervidae: They can get some money back if they have to dispose of their animals due to legal or health reasons, helping them recover part of their loss.

✔️Licensed cervidae facility owners: Owners of facilities that raise deer, elk, or similar animals will be able to receive up to 25% of the animal's value if forced to dispose of them.

✔️Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry: By setting clear rules for reimbursement, it helps them manage cervidae farms better and ensure compliance with laws.

This law gives financial support to those in the cervidae farming business, offering a safety net if they have to get rid of animals.

What are some concerns people might have about this law?

Some of these may be reasons the bill failed to pass:

⚠️Limited reimbursement: Farmers can only get up to 25% of the value of the disposed animals, which may not cover their full losses.

⚠️Government costs: The state will need to allocate money for reimbursements, which could strain the budget or redirect funds from other areas.

⚠️Bureaucracy: The process of determining the value of animals and setting up rules could take time and involve complicated paperwork.

⚠️Potential abuse: There may be risks of people trying to inflate the value of their animals or make claims that don’t fully meet the legal requirements.

⚠️Focus on larger farms: Smaller cervidae operations might not benefit as much, since the 25% reimbursement may still not be enough to help them significantly.

This bill was introduced on 2/29/24 by Senator David Bullard [R] and Senator George Burns [R].

Due to a lack of support, missed deadlines, committee action, leadership decisions or veto, this bill failed to pass and will not be signed into law.

➡️Is this something that you think Oklahomans need? How would it have benefited the county you live in?

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Hi, I'm Judy! I love talking about the area I live in and what affects us. Follow me if you'd like more stories like this.