TX SB97

Requires the Texas Animal Health Commission to conduct a mandatory epidemiological assessment of deer before they can be destroyed, changing the current discretionary "may conduct" to "shall conduct"

Mandates that a positive test result must be obtained from the deer using the least intrusive test feasible before destruction can occur, with testing prohibited on tonsillar tissue and required to be conducted at the site where the deer would be destroyed

Removes previous conditions that allowed assessments only "if conducted in a timely manner" and "contingent on availability of funding"

Allows breeder deer that receive a negative test result during an epidemiological assessment to be released onto a release site within 14 days of the negative test result

Requires the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt or amend rules to implement these changes, with the act taking effect immediately upon two-thirds vote or September 1, 2025