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Committee approves move of wildlife disease duties from Animal Health Commission to TPWD with timetable
Summary
SB 28 46 would transfer authority over certain wildlife disease controls (including components of CWD administration) from the Texas Animal Health Commission to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; committee discussion emphasized need for a memorandum of understanding and for resource planning.
Senate Bill 28 46, carried by Senator Perry, would transfer administration of specified disease‑control authorities for wildlife—including responsibilities used in chronic wasting disease response—back to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). Perry said the change would consolidate wildlife disease authority under the agency that manages native species and allow the TAHC to focus on livestock.
The bill would require TPWD and TAHC to enter a memorandum of understanding with a timetable and specific steps to complete the transfer before Sept. 1, 2026. Witnesses in committee included representatives from the Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Deer Association, the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, as well as legal organizations representing exotics. Testimony was split: some groups were neutral and supported the goal of clarifying roles, while others urged caution and asked that resources and due‑process protections accompany the transfer.
Key themes included concerns that TPWD does not currently have equivalent veterinary staff or funding that the TAHC brings to some disease response functions, and that the bill should explicitly preserve premises‑specific quarantine practices for breeder release sites. Proponents said the transfer would reduce confusion about which agency leads on wildlife disease matters and that the MOU and timeline would allow a staged handover. The committee reported the bill favorably, narrowly, on a roll call (9 ayes, 0 nays) after discussion.
Why it matters: The transfer reorganizes which state agency holds primary operational authority for wildlife disease response, which has implications for veterinary staffing, quarantine authority, and how breeders and landowners are regulated and notified.
Ending: The committee advanced the bill with instructions for an MOU and timetable; members said they expect the two agencies to continue close coordination during and after the transfer.
