Bill > HB2617

This bill modifies existing law regarding warrantless entry onto private lands by natural resources police officers and the use of surveillance cameras. The bill adds specific limitations to when officers can enter private lands without a warrant, including prohibiting entry onto posted lands (clearly marked private property) unless certain strict conditions are met, such as dispatching injured wildlife that the officer has personally observed from a lawful vantage point, preventing an imminent unlawful killing of wildlife, or responding to a life-threatening emergency. Additionally, the bill now requires that surveillance cameras or game cameras cannot be placed on posted lands without the explicit consent of the property owner or a valid search warrant. The new provisions aim to protect private property rights while still allowing law enforcement to perform necessary duties related to wildlife conservation and public safety. Importantly, the bill does not prevent camera placement in areas open to public view or where the officer has a lawful right to be, and it maintains officers' ability to enter non-residential private lands while performing official duties under specific, narrowly defined circumstances.