TALLAHASSEE -- A group of reptile keepers and retail sellers is fighting Senate Bill 1414, which permitted many non-native lizard types to be included in the Conditional Species or Prohibited Species after April 29, 2021.
The U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers Florida Chapter, and many others in the reptile industry, filed a complaint on May 28 in Leon County Circuit Court against Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto and Commission Executive Director Eric Sutton.
According to the complaint, the group of Plaintiffs are challenging the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's adoption of the amendments that would remove Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, Northern Africa pythons, Southern African pythons, amethystine pythons, scrub pythons, green anacondas and Nile monitors from the Conditional Species List, add all these reptiles plus green iguanas and tegu lizards to the Prohibited Species List and revise regulations applicable to the possession of Prohibited Species.
The amendment would require owners to get rid of their animals by July 28, 2021.
Plaintiffs seek the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to allow for due process and a hearing. Plaintiffs are represented by Tiffany A. Roddenberry of Holland and Knight LLP.