McCombie Legislation to Address Chronic Wasting Disease Clears House Committees

SPRINGFIELD — Two pieces of legislation introduced by House Minority Leader Tony McCombie to address concerns over sharpshooting to manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer passed House committees last week with unanimous approval. House Bill 2339 would phase out the sharpshooting program in counties with no confirmed CWD case in three years, while House Bill 2340 would allow landowners with at least 20 acres to obtain special hunting licenses in counties affected by CWD. Both bills passed the Agriculture & Conservation Committee and now move to the full House for a final vote. McCombie’s efforts follow significant public input through surveys and community outreach aimed at finding state-based solutions to manage the disease.