Relating to the control by lethal means of white-tailed deer in certain areas, the official text

H.B. No. 2842

AN ACT

relating to the control by lethal means of white-tailed deer in

certain areas.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 43.151, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.151. THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR DAMAGE BY

WILDLIFE; NOTICE OF WHITE-TAILED DEER POPULATION CONTROL IN CERTAIN

AREAS. (a) A person who has evidence clearly showing that wildlife

protected by this code is causing serious damage to commercial

agricultural, horticultural, or aquicultural interests, or is a

threat to public safety, and who desires to kill the protected

wildlife shall give written notice of the facts to the department.

(b) A political subdivision, a state agency, a federal

agency, an institution of higher education, or a property owners'

association as defined by Section 202.001, Property Code, that

desires to control by lethal means a white-tailed deer population

shall submit to the department written notice of evidence

demonstrating:

(1) the use of lethal means is necessary to prevent the

deer from damaging the habitat of one or more species listed by the

United States Department of the Interior or an agency of this state

as endangered or threatened; or

(2) the entity is experiencing an overpopulation of

deer on property the entity owns or manages and recreational

hunting is not feasible for controlling the deer population.

SECTION 2. Section 43.1515, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.1515. RULES. The commission may adopt rules to

implement this subchapter, including rules governing:

(1) reports that must be submitted to the department

by a person who holds a permit issued by the department under this

subchapter;

(2) the reinstatement of a canceled permit and a fee

for the reinstatement;

(3) the possession of wildlife resources taken or held

under this subchapter;

(4) the circumstances required to qualify for a

permit; [and]

(5) the electronic issuance of permits; and

(6) the means, methods, times, and locations of

killing protected wildlife.

SECTION 3. Section 43.152, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.152. DEPARTMENT INSPECTION. (a) On receiving

notice from a person under Section 43.151(a) [43.151], the

department may inspect the property and determine if damage or a

threat to public safety is occurring as alleged in the notice.

(b) If the notice received by the department under Section

43.151(a) [43.151] alleges damage or a threat to public safety

caused by mule deer, pronghorn antelope, or desert bighorn sheep,

the department may not issue a permit under Section 43.154 unless

the department inspects the property and determines whether serious

damage or a threat to public safety is occurring.

(c) On receiving notice from an entity under Section

43.151(b), the department may inspect the habitat or property

referenced in the notice to:

(1) assess deer management plans in the habitat

relating to one or more species listed by the United States

Department of the Interior or an agency of this state as endangered

or threatened; or

(2) determine whether the entity is experiencing an

overpopulation of white-tailed deer on the property and whether

recreational hunting for controlling the deer population is

feasible.

SECTION 4. Sections 43.153(a) and (b), Parks and Wildlife

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person described by Section 43.151(a) or an authorized

representative of an entity described by Section 43.151(b) [who has

evidence of damage by depredation or threat to public safety] may

file with the department an application for a permit to kill the

protected wildlife.

(b) The application must be in writing, be sworn to by the

applicant, and contain:

(1) a statement of facts relating to, as applicable:

(A) the damage or threat;

(B) the feasibility of recreational hunting; or

(C) the need to control overpopulation to prevent

damage to the habitat of one or more species listed by the United

States Department of the Interior or an agency of this state as

endangered or threatened; and

(2) an agreement by the applicant to comply with the

provisions of this subchapter and any rules adopted by the

commission under this subchapter.

SECTION 5. Section 62.006, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) This section does not apply to:

(1) an entity described by Section 43.151(b) that

employs a person for compensation or promise of compensation to

control by lethal means white-tailed deer as authorized under a

permit issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 43; or

(2) a person employed as described by Subdivision (1).

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2842 was passed by the House on April

30, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 106, Nays 28, 1 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2842 was passed by the Senate on May

21, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor