AN ACT relating to captive cervids.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Bivens and 3 co-sponsors

The bill would regulate captive cervid facilities by requiring licensing, facility standards, welfare, recordkeeping, transport rules, inspections, and penalties.

to Agriculture (H)

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Summary of HB 665 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky) – AN ACT relating to captive cervids

Purpose and intent

The bill addresses the regulation of captive cervids, i.e., members of the deer family kept in captivity (such as deer and related species) within the state.

Its overarching aim is to establish standards, oversight, and potential restrictions governing possession, care, breeding, transport, and facility operations involving captive cervids.

Key provisions and changes (subject to final language of the bill)

The bill would set regulatory requirements for facilities housing captive cervids, including licensing or registration, facility standards, and animal care obligations.

It may establish minimum standards for enclosures, fencing, ventilation, sanitation, nutrition, veterinary care, and welfare practices to ensure humane treatment.

There could be reporting and recordkeeping duties for licensees, such as inventory, births, deaths, transfers, and medical treatments.

The act may include transportation rules for captive cervids, specifying safe handling, vehicle standards, and required documentation for inter-facility movement.

It could introduce oversight mechanisms, including inspections by state agricultural or wildlife authorities, with explicit penalties for noncompliance.

The bill might address public health and safety considerations, including disease prevention and reporting requirements (e.g., chronic wasting disease testing or surveillance, depending on broader state policy).

Provisions may cover enforcement, including penalties (fines, license suspension or revocation) and possibly civil or criminal consequences for violations.

The legislation could include effective dates or staged implementation, with a timeline for when licenses, facility upgrades, or new restrictions come into force.

Who would be affected

Owners and operators of facilities that keep captive cervids (e.g., deer farms, zoos, private collections, hunting preserves, or research facilities).

Veterinarians and animal care staff who work with captive cervids within regulated facilities.

State and local agricultural or wildlife agencies responsible for licensing, inspection, and enforcement.

Potentially, individuals involved in the transport or sale of captive cervids and related products.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Initial action history shows introduction in the Kentucky House on February 18, 2026, with referral to the Committee on Committees and then to the Agriculture (H) Committee by February 25, 2026.

The bill would proceed through the normal legislative process (committee hearings, potential amendments, floor votes in the House, and then transmission to the Senate, with further committees and votes) before any final enactment.

Final effective dates (for any new licensing requirements, standards, or penalties) would be specified within the enacted bill, including any phase-in periods for facilities to come into compliance.

Notes and considerations

As the text provided includes only the action history and basic title, the precise language, thresholds (e.g., license fees, facility size triggers), and specific health or welfare standards are not stated here. Readers should consult the bill’s full text for exact provisions, definitions (e.g., what constitutes a “captive cervid” for purposes of the act), and any exemptions.

Users should monitor committee hearings and fiscal notes for potential cost impacts to facilities and for any anticipated regulatory burden or economic effects on the captive cervid industry in Kentucky.