The bill proposes the abolishment of the Texas Animal Health Commission, transferring its functions and responsibilities to the Department of Agriculture. This transition is reflected in various amendments to the Agriculture Code, where references to the "Texas Animal Health Commission" are deleted and replaced with "Department of Agriculture." The department will independently pursue policies to secure state borders from plant and animal pests and diseases, conduct inspections related to livestock and disease control, and manage disease control and biosecurity measures. Additionally, the bill establishes a Texas food system security and resiliency planning council and modifies record-keeping requirements for livestock auction commission merchants.

Further amendments enhance the regulatory framework surrounding livestock and animal health management, including the department's authority to adopt rules for testing, identification, transportation, and sanitation of animals. The bill allows the department to require registration of feral swine holding facilities, order the slaughter of livestock exposed to diseases, and prepare for disaster events affecting animal health. It also establishes a disease surveillance program for elk, mandates disease testing for elk movement, and outlines the responsibilities of veterinarians in reporting diseases. Overall, the bill aims to streamline animal health oversight under a single agency, enhancing efficiency and coordination in agricultural health management while ensuring compliance with updated regulatory standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Agriculture Code 2.006, Agriculture Code 23.002, Agriculture Code 71.0082, Agriculture Code 134.004, Agriculture Code 147.042, Agriculture Code 148.011, Agriculture Code 161.003, Agriculture Code 161.004, Agriculture Code 161.005, Agriculture Code 161.007, Agriculture Code 161.009, The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter , Agriculture Code 552.007, Agriculture Code 161.041, Agriculture Code 161.0411, Agriculture Code 161.0412, Agriculture Code 161.0415, Agriculture Code 161.0416, Agriculture Code 161.0417, Agriculture Code 161.042, Agriculture Code 161.043, Agriculture Code 161.044, Agriculture Code 161.0445, Agriculture Code 161.045, Agriculture Code 161.047, Agriculture Code 161.048, Agriculture Code 161.049, Agriculture Code 161.050, Agriculture Code 161.051, Agriculture Code 161.052, Agriculture Code 161.0525, Agriculture Code 161.054, Agriculture Code 161.0541, Agriculture Code 161.0542, Agriculture Code 161.0545, Agriculture Code 161.055, Agriculture Code 161.056, Agriculture Code 161.057, Agriculture Code 161.058, Agriculture Code 161.059, Agriculture Code 161.060, Agriculture Code 161.0601, Agriculture Code 161.0602, Agriculture Code 161.0603, Agriculture Code 161.061, Agriculture Code 161.0615, Agriculture Code 161.062, Agriculture Code 161.063, Agriculture Code 161.065, Agriculture Code 161.081, Agriculture Code 161.101, Agriculture Code 161.102, Agriculture Code 161.112, Agriculture Code 161.113, Agriculture Code 161.115, Agriculture Code 161.116, Agriculture Code 161.134, Agriculture Code 161.136, Agriculture Code 161.137, Agriculture Code 161.1375, Agriculture Code 161.138, Agriculture Code 161.139, Agriculture Code 161.140, Agriculture Code 161.1405, Agriculture Code 161.143, Agriculture Code 161.146, Agriculture Code 161.148, Agriculture Code 162.001, Agriculture Code 162.002, Agriculture Code 162.003, Agriculture Code 162.004, Agriculture Code 162.005, Agriculture Code 162.006, Agriculture Code 162.009, Agriculture Code 162.010, Agriculture Code 162.013, Agriculture Code 162.014, Agriculture Code 163.001, Agriculture Code 163.002, Agriculture Code 163.003, Agriculture Code 163.021, Agriculture Code 163.061, Agriculture Code 163.062, Agriculture Code 163.063, Agriculture Code 163.065, Agriculture Code 163.066, Agriculture Code 163.069, Agriculture Code 163.070, Agriculture Code 163.072, Agriculture Code 163.081, Agriculture Code 163.083, Agriculture Code 163.084, Agriculture Code 163.085, Agriculture Code 164.002, Agriculture Code 164.003, Agriculture Code 164.005, Agriculture Code 164.021, Agriculture Code 164.022, Agriculture Code 164.023, Agriculture Code 164.041, Agriculture Code 164.042, Agriculture Code 164.044, Agriculture Code 164.046, Agriculture Code 164.064, Agriculture Code 164.065, Agriculture Code 164.083, Agriculture Code 165.021, Agriculture Code 165.023, Agriculture Code 165.026, Agriculture Code 165.027, Agriculture Code 167.001, Agriculture Code 167.003, Agriculture Code 167.004, Agriculture Code 167.005, Agriculture Code 167.006, Agriculture Code 167.007, Agriculture Code 167.008, Agriculture Code 167.021, Agriculture Code 167.023, Agriculture Code 167.024, Agriculture Code 167.025, Agriculture Code 167.026, Agriculture Code 167.029, Agriculture Code 167.030, Agriculture Code 167.031, Agriculture Code 167.032, Agriculture Code 167.033, Agriculture Code 167.051, Agriculture Code 167.052, Agriculture Code 167.053, Agriculture Code 167.056, Agriculture Code 167.057, Agriculture Code 167.059, Agriculture Code 167.060, Agriculture Code 167.081, Agriculture Code 167.082, Agriculture Code 167.101, Agriculture Code 167.103, Agriculture Code 167.104, Agriculture Code 167.106, Agriculture Code 167.109, Agriculture Code 167.110, Agriculture Code 167.131, Agriculture Code 167.132, Agriculture Code 167.137, Agriculture Code 167.138, Agriculture Code 167.139, Agriculture Code 168.004, Agriculture Code 168.006, Agriculture Code 168.007, Agriculture Code 168.008, Education Code 168.003, Education Code 56.103, Education Code 61.9965, Government Code 418.190, Government Code 421.021, Health and Safety Code 81.008, Health and Safety Code 435.006, Occupations Code 801.256, Occupations Code 801.361, Occupations Code 801.403, Parks and Wildlife Code 161.101, Parks and Wildlife Code 12.0251, Parks and Wildlife Code 43.369, Parks and Wildlife Code 43.953, Parks and Wildlife Code 43.955, Parks and Wildlife Code 66.007, Penal Code 28.03, Tax Code 161.001, Tax Code 23.48, Tax Code 23.526, Tax Code 23.60, Parks and Wildlife Code 164.006 (Parks and Wildlife Code 161, Parks and Wildlife Code 43, Agriculture Code 168, Government Code 418, Penal Code 28, Agriculture Code 2, Parks and Wildlife Code 12, Tax Code 161, Agriculture Code 23, Agriculture Code 167, Agriculture Code 71, Agriculture Code 148, Health and Safety Code 81, Agriculture Code 162, Agriculture Code 134, Occupations Code 801, Agriculture Code 147, The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter , Agriculture Code 552, Education Code 61, Tax Code 23, Agriculture Code 164, Parks and Wildlife Code 66, Agriculture Code 161, Education Code 168, Government Code 421, Agriculture Code 163, Parks and Wildlife Code 164, Health and Safety Code 435, Agriculture Code 165, Education Code 56)