Bill > HB5458

This bill requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to conduct a comprehensive study on chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and other cervids (deer-like animals). The study must be completed by December 1, 2026, and will involve comparing TPWD's CWD management rules with other states' approaches, assessing the benefits and drawbacks of current policies, analyzing cervid genetic resistance to the disease, and incorporating scientific data. The department must also engage public input by holding a public hearing and creating an online forum where citizens can submit comments for at least 60 days, with the requirement that TPWD respond to each comment. Upon completion, the department will submit a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, house speaker, and relevant wildlife committees, making the report freely available to legislators and the public. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and expire on May 31, 2027, ensuring a focused and time-limited approach to understanding and potentially improving CWD management strategies.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB5458