AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas lawmaker announced he no longer intends on moving forward with a bill to abolish the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
In a post on Facebook, State Rep. Pat Curry said the bill he filed, HB 4938, was done so as a mechanism to bring TPWD to the table to discuss proposed regulations on the deer breeding industry in Texas.
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“After a series of productive conversations with TPWD staff, I do not intend on moving this bill any further,” Curry said in the post.
Curry explained he felt filing the bill was necessary to get TPWD’s attention after discussions over proposed regulations of deer breeders had failed. The proposed regulations were in response to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). TPWD described CWD as a family of fatal neurological diseases that can impact native white-tailed and mule deer as well as elk and several exotic deer species.
According to Curry, the regulations threatened to infringe on private property and small business owner rights.
“I have also received dozens of complaints from constituents, landowners, and deer breeders across Texas who have grave concerns over the proposed regulations, several of which gave very compelling testimony in Austin this session,” Curry said.
Curry also went on to say he is not a licensed deer breeder and has never profited from such a business.
“I am a rancher, farmer, deer and wildlife hunter, fisherman and small business owner. My only interest in filing this bill is to protect my constituents, landowners, and the deer breeding industry, which provides over $9 billion to the Texas economy each year,” Curry said.
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