TX SB2844

Reduces the maximum size for a single breeder deer enclosure from 100 acres to 20 acres, with an exception for facilities that had permits issued and enclosures existing before September 1, 2025, which may retain up to 100 acres but cannot expand beyond 20 acres

Creates nine new criminal offenses for deer breeders, including holding deer in unregistered facilities, failing to report deer mortality, failing to submit disease test samples, violating disease testing plans, possessing unlawfully acquired deer, unlawful deer importation, transferring improperly identified deer, and transferring deer without required disease testing

Makes knowingly submitting a disease test sample from a different deer than identified a criminal offense, unless the misidentification resulted from clerical error

Establishes a tiered penalty structure: Class C misdemeanor for general violations, Class B misdemeanor for repeat offenses involving facility inventory and disease reporting violations or for unlawful possession/importation, Class A misdemeanor for transfer violations involving improper identification or disease testing, and state jail felony for repeat offenders who submit fraudulent disease test samples

Applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, with previous offenses governed by prior law