Last Thursday, Texas Representative Pat Curry introduced House Bill 4938 (HB 4938), a controversial piece of legislation that would dismantle the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and redistribute its responsibilities among other state agencies.
TPWD is the primary agency that manages and oversees Texas’s vast network of state parks, wildlife conservation programs, historic sites, and outdoor recreation initiatives. However, TWPD is presently under threat with the new HB 4938 bill, in which the department would be eliminated, with its funding, personnel, and assets absorbed by other state entities.
Under the proposal:
- The Texas General Land Office (GLO) would take over the management of state parks, natural areas, historic sites, fish hatcheries, and wildlife management areas.
- The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) would handle responsibilities related to wildlife conservation, native plants, hunting, and fishing regulations.
- The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) would assume TPWD’s law enforcement duties, including game wardens, boating regulations, and water safety enforcement.
According to the bill, current TPWD employees would be transferred to the appropriate agencies, retaining their positions under the new structure.
The proposal has sparked significant backlash from conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and lawmakers who argue that dissolving TPWD could disrupt wildlife conservation efforts, weaken rural law enforcement, and jeopardize the maintenance of state parks and trails. Critics fear the restructuring could lead to inefficiencies and a decline in Texas’s environmental stewardship.
If approved, the transition would take effect on September 1, 2025. The bill’s future remains uncertain as it moves through the legislative process.