89R11941 BEE-D     By: Curry H.B. No. 3607       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the regulation of deer breeding by the Parks and   Wildlife Department.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 58.002(1), Agriculture Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (1)  "Agricultural business" means:                      (A)  a business that is or proposes to be engaged   in producing, processing, marketing, or exporting an agricultural   product;                      (B)  an eligible applicant as defined in   Subchapter E;                      (C)  the entity designated to carry out boll   weevil eradication in accordance with Section 74.1011;                      (D)  any agriculture-related business in rural   areas of Texas including a business that provides recreational   activities, including hiking, fishing, hunting, or any other   activity associated with the enjoyment of nature or the outdoors on   agricultural land;                      (E)  a state agency or an institution of higher   education that is engaged in producing an agricultural product; or                      (F)  [a business that holds a permit under   Subchapter L, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code; or                      [(G)]  any other business in a rural area of this   state.          SECTION 2.  Section 12.601, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 12.601.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  This subchapter   applies only to the following permits:                (1)  a trap, transport, and transplant permit under   Section 43.061 or 43.0611;                (2)  a trap, transport, and process permit under   Section 43.0612;                (3)  [a deer breeder's permit under Subchapter L,   Chapter 43;                [(4)]  a white-tailed deer management permit under   Subchapter R, Chapter 43; and                (4) [(5)]  a mule deer management permit under   Subchapter R-1, Chapter 43.          SECTION 3.  The heading to Subchapter L, Chapter 43, Parks   and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER L. BREEDER DEER [BREEDER'S PERMIT]          SECTION 4.  Section 43.351(1), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (1)  "Breeder deer" means a white-tailed deer or mule   deer legally held under [a permit authorized by] this subchapter.          SECTION 5.  Subchapter L, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife   Code, is amended by adding Section 43.3515 to read as follows:          Sec. 43.3515.  POSSESSION OF BREEDER DEER. A person may   possess live breeder deer for the purpose of propagation if the deer   are at all times surrounded by a fence not less than eight feet in   height.          SECTION 6.  Section 43.361(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A release site onto which breeder deer are liberated   must be surrounded by a fence not less than eight [seven] feet in   height that is capable of retaining deer at all times under   reasonable and ordinary circumstances.          SECTION 7.  Section 43.367, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 43.367.  PENALTY. A [(a) Except as provided by   Subsection (b), a] person who violates a provision of this   subchapter [or a regulation of the commission issued under this   subchapter or who fails to file a full and complete report as   required by Section 43.359] commits an offense that is a Class C   Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.          [(b)  A person who violates Section 43.365(a)(1) commits an   offense that is a Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.]          SECTION 8.  Section 43.951, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 43.951.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies only   to the disposition of [the following deer:                [(1)  deer held at a facility covered by a permit issued   under Subchapter L;                [(2)]  deer on acreage covered by a permit issued under   Subchapter R or [; and                [(3)  deer on acreage covered by a permit issued under   Subchapter] R-1.          SECTION 9.  Sections 43.952(2) and (3), Parks and Wildlife   Code, are amended to read as follows:                (2)  "Permit" means a permit issued under Subchapter   [L,] R[,] or R-1.                (3)  "Permit holder" means a person to whom a permit is   issued under Subchapter [L,] R[,] or R-1.          SECTION 10.  Section 43.955(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The applicable permit holder shall pay all costs   associated with:                (1)  an epidemiological assessment conducted under   this subchapter to the animal health commission; and                (2)  [except as provided by Subsection (b),] the   destruction of deer under this subchapter to the department.          SECTION 11.  The following provisions of the Parks and   Wildlife Code are repealed:                (1)  Sections 43.351(2), (3), (4), (6), and (7);                (2)  Sections 43.352, 43.353, 43.356, 43.3561, 43.357,   43.358, 43.359, 43.3591, 43.360, 43.362, 43.363, 43.364, 43.365,   43.366, and 43.369; and                (3)  Sections 43.955(b) and (c).          SECTION 12.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt, amend,   or repeal rules as necessary to implement the changes in law made by   this Act.          SECTION 13.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.