The Impact.
House Bill 4392 would make it unlawful to buy, sell, offer for sale or offer to buy the following
species of turtles:
• Yellowbelly Turtles (Trachemys scripta)
• Florida Cooter (Pseudemys Floridian)
• River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna)
• Chicken Turtle (Deirchelys reticularia)
• Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
• Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
• Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox), and
• Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentine).
Also, a person would not be allowed to possess (not buy or sell) more than five of each of the named
species above and more than 15 turtles of a combination of the species listed above without a permit
issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Anyone found in violation of these laws will be
guilty of a misdemeanor and if convicted will receive a $250 fine. Each turtle bought, sold or
possessed in violation of this law constitutes a separate offense.
These restrictions do not apply to the Yellowbelly turtle and the common snapping turtle if they were
taken from a private pond that is a permitted aquaculture facility.