Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1629: Exotic animals; enhance penalties for killing or capturing after unlawful entry into a commercial wildlife enclosure.
Status: Failed, February 12, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 49-11-22, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO KNOWINGLY ENTER A SHOOTING PRESERVE OR COMMERCIAL WILDLIFE ENCLOSURE AND KILLING, MAIMING, WOUNDING OR CAPTURING EXOTIC LIVESTOCK; TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-11-1 AND 49-7-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE THE TERMS "EXOTIC LIVESTOCK" AND "COMMERCIAL WILDLIFE ENCLOSURE"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-7-101, 49-7-141 AND 97-17-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-17-87 AND 69-29-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create new section 49-11-22, mississippi code of 1972, to provide that it shall be unlawful to knowingly enter a shooting preserve or commercial wildlife enclosure and killing, maiming, wounding or capturing exotic livestock; to prescribe penalties for violations; to amend sections 49-11-1 and 49-7-1, mississippi code of 1972, to define the terms "exotic livestock" and "commercial wildlife enclosure"; to amend sections 49-7-101, 49-7-141 and 97-17-85, mississippi code of 1972, in conformity to the preceding provisions…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 49-11-22, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO KNOWINGLY ENTER A SHOOTING PRESERVE OR COMMERCIAL WILDLIFE ENCLOSURE AND KILLING, MAIMING, WOUNDING OR CAPTURING EXOTIC LIVESTOCK; TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-11-1 AND 49-7-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE THE TERMS "EXOTIC LIVESTOCK" AND "COMMERCIAL WILDLIFE ENCLOSURE"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-7-101, 49-7-141 AND 97-17-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 97-17-87 AND 69-29-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 49-11-22, Mississippi Code of 1972: 49-11-22. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly enter a shooting preserve or commercial wildlife enclosure without the permission of, or without being accompanied by, the operator or owner of the preserve or enclosure, or the agent of operator or owner of the preserve or enclosure, to kill, maim, wound or capture any exotic livestock contained within the preserve or enclosure. *HR26/R697CS.1* H. B. No. 1629 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR26/R697CS.1 PAGE 1 (MCL\KW) (2) Any person convicted of violating subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of willful or malicious trespass, and …