Bipartisan legislation toughening penalties on residents who knowingly release feral hogs in Missouri is now on the governor’s desk. The Missouri House voted 150-1 to give final approval to the bill from Speed State Representative Tim Taylor before Friday’s adjournment. Under Taylor’s bill, repeat offenders would be charged with a felony for each feral swine that’s released:

Feral hogs are a major issue across southern Missouri, especially in and near the Mark Twain National Forest. Governor Parson has warned that feral hogs pose serious safety risks to residents.