The bill amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to regulate deer breeding and establish new criminal offenses related to the management of breeder deer. It modifies Section 43.360 to allow a single enclosure for breeder deer to contain up to 100 acres, provided that the facility's permit was issued and maintained prior to September 1, 2025, and that the enclosure existed before that date. Additionally, it specifies that enclosures in this category cannot be expanded beyond 20 acres. The bill also expands the list of offenses under Section 43.365, which includes various violations such as holding breeder deer in unaccounted facilities, failing to report mortality, and unlawfully importing deer.

Furthermore, the bill updates penalties for violations of the deer breeding regulations. It establishes a tiered system of misdemeanors based on the severity of the offense, with Class C misdemeanors for general violations, escalating to Class A misdemeanors for more serious infractions, and state jail felonies for repeat offenders of specific violations. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and apply only to offenses committed after that date, ensuring that previous violations are governed by the law in effect at the time of the offense.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Parks and Wildlife Code 43.360, Parks and Wildlife Code 43.365, Parks and Wildlife Code 43.367 (Parks and Wildlife Code 43)