JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A bill shifting oversight of Missouri deer ranches and hunting preserves has been passed by the Senate over the objections of Gov. Jay Nixon.
The Senate's vote Wednesday sends the bill to the House, where a similar two-thirds majority is needed to complete the veto override.
The legislation would classify captive deer as "livestock" - like cattle and pigs - rather than as "wildlife."
The intent is to shift regulatory responsibilities from the state Conservation to the Agriculture department. Some lawmakers hope to negate proposed Conservation Department regulations that would ban imports of deer from other states and require double fencing for new deer ranching permits.
Nixon vetoed the bill because he said it would "mess with 80 years of success" by the Conservation Department in regulating wildlife.
Deer bill is SB506.
Online:
Senate: www.senate.mo.gov