MADISON — Last week, State Assembly Representative Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon) and Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) introduced CWD Prevention Package. The three bills within this package aim to combat, monitor, and increase awareness around chronic wasting disease (CWD).

“The package we introduced today (Sept. 19) was made in an effort to fight the spread of CWD, a neurological disease that is one hundred percent fatal. As the 2025 archery season has begun, and gun deer hunting season is around the corner, there’s no better time to do the right thing and get these bills passed into law,” Jacobson said. 

Since 2002, when the first cases of CWD were detected in Wisconsin, over 8,300 deer have tested positive across 60 counties. 

“In fact, the DNR is now classifying the disease as endemic to the southern part of the state,” Jacobson said. 

Without proactive efforts to limit the spread of CWD, Wisconsin’s sporting heritage and billion-dollar hunting industry is also threatened.

“This package includes three bills: to provide funding for deer herd testing, disease research, carcass disposal sites and education relating to CWD. In addition to the precautions that each hunter can take individually, this legislation seeks to protect the herds that allow our state to have a safe and healthy hunting season,” Jacobson said.