Republican State Rep. Pat Curry of Waco filed legislation to transfer the functions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the General Land Office, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Public Safety.
This move follows TPWD’s handling of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations, which have faced significant public opposition.
Curry said House Bill 4938 is intended to “get their attention.”
CWD is a prion disease affecting deer, with TPWD implementing regulations despite nearly 90 percent public opposition. The department board voted unanimously to repeal containment zones and opted for double fencing instead, sparking criticism from deer breeders and elected officials.
“They’re using this chronic wasting disease as their reason for doing all the things that they’re doing,” Curry said. “They literally have seventy-two positives out of thousands of tests that they’ve done and the thousands of deer that they’ve killed.”
State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) questioned TPWD’s sincerity in handling CWD during a recent commission hearing, citing inconsistent practices in handling infected deer.
Hall gave a detailed example of TPWD being in hazmat suits in May 2024 when workers killed 249 deer purportedly infected with CWD at Robert Williams’ RW Trophy Ranch in Hunt County.
Yet, according to Hall’s testimony, these workers drove the deer in a non-sealed unit with air blowing through the trailer, “leaking deer fluid” onto the highway, parked next to a Buc-ees, and took the trailer to a public carwash where other vehicles could pick up the mud and track down the road.
“Does that look like the actions of someone who actually believes that CWD is the threat to humanity that Parks would like you to believe?” Hall asked the board.
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller also criticized TPWD’s approach, comparing it to past agencies that defied the legislature and were dissolved. Miller cited the Office of Rural and Community Affairs, the Structural Pest Control Department, and the Office of Rural Health, which no longer exist as the Department of Agriculture has taken over their duties.
Even supporters of the measures, like Jonathan Letz, President of the Texas Wildlife Association, stated, “We do have some concerns about the scientific basis of some of the items.”
The new regulations would revoke a deer breeder’s permit should a breeder fail to test within a season, and it would allow game wardens to enter the breeder’s property to inspect the new double-fencing compliance and visible RFID tag requirements. Additionally, the breeders must pay for the cost of the testing and loss of revenue from killed deer.
“It’s putting lipstick on a pig,” said Curry. “There is no end date, so they can just keep this going perpetually and stomp on the landowners’ rights around them, and it has nothing to do with deer breeding.”
Curry, who sits on the Delivery of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Committee, explained that his legislation is not symbolic but more of “a come-to-the-table bill.”
“As a rancher, a deer breeder, a small businessman, and a legislator, I got to tell you that I have a huge constituent base that is like, ‘These people are out of control!’ Well then, the DOGE committee, our job is about efficiency and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse,” Curry said. “What I’m really looking for is clarity and transparency and general fairness and the rules and regulation.”
Curry’s House Bill 4938 aims to redistribute TPWD’s responsibilities among the General Land Office, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Public Safety. However, Curry clarified that his goal is not to abolish the department but to force it to renegotiate its terms. The bill requires TPWD to enter memoranda of understanding with these agencies to redistribute funds and ensure employee transitions.
The General Land Office would regulate parks, natural areas, wildlife management areas, fish hatcheries, historic sites, or other public land, including bodies of water.
The Department of Agriculture would oversee the conservation and management of native plants and wildlife, including hunting and fishing.
The Department of Public Safety would manage all law enforcement responsibilities, including game wardens, water safety enforcement, and boating vessel regulation.
Kirk McDonnell, Press Officer of the TPWD, defended its role in managing Texas land and waters. McDonnell told Texas Scorecard, “Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is proud of the important role our agency plays in managing Texas land and waters in coordination with our partners and private landowners to provide for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.”
McDonnell noted that “The Texas legislature has an existing Sunset Commission that reviews the efficacy of all state agencies, and TPWD underwent that process in 2021.”
Bosque County Sheriff Trace Hendricks, a Republican, opposed Curry’s proposal citing TPWD’s vital role in law enforcement.
Curry acknowledged Hendricks’ concerns but emphasized his support for game wardens and wildlife protection. He said that he spoke with Hendricks after he made the post but declined to detail their conversation.
Hendricks’ office declined to comment on the bill or the conversation.
Curry does not know whether HB 4938 will pass the house, let alone out of the DOGE committee. He stated his goal with this legislation is to force the TPWD to renegotiate its terms.
“I don’t want a coauthor or joint author on it. I want to control it,” said Curry. “I’m really trying to get to a deep conversation and force these people to the table.”
“Sometimes you just got to fire a shot to get a result,” Curry concluded.
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