Protecting Texas property rights, hunting heritage, and the conservation efforts of those who value and steward wildlife resources.
Story by David Yeates, CEO of Texas Wildlife Association
Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) implements many important programs and plays many roles in Texas wildlife conservation. We reach more young Texans with natural resource programs than any other organization. We take more young Texans hunting than any other organization. We work extensively with partners to host landowner workshops across the state. All of this is critical work.
And while we relish spreading the message of private landowner’s role in wildlife conservation in Texas and keeping hunters in the field, our most solemn duty at TWA is in the world of public policy advocacy. Public policy advocacy is ongoing through state agency rule-making and interim discussions with members of the Legislature, but things go into high gear during the biennial regular session of the Texas Legislature.
Because the Texas Legislature meets for only 140 days every other year, the pace is frenetic. The 86th Session was dominated by efforts to address property taxes and school finance. With a new Speaker of the House and many newly elected members, the session feels like a “fresh start.” This session TWA focused on several big initiatives for wildlife conservation and rural property rights.
TWA worked with our friends at Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Texas Farm Bureau to meaningfully reform eminent domain for private condemners. Although the bill did not pass, TWA is very thankful to Senator Lois Kolkhorst for her leadership and long-term efforts to reform eminent domain statutes in Texas.
We have worked with virtually every conservation organization to finally fund the TPWD State Park System at sufficient and predictable levels. Texas state parks were largely built in the 1930s and 1970s and have been chronically underfunded for decades, resulting in a deferred maintenance tab estimated at $800 million. These parks represent the best opportunity for all Texans to enjoy the outdoors and develop an appreciation for nature, which private landowners desperately need.
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) passed legislation out of the Senate to fully dedicate all estimated sporting goods sales tax to the park system. Rep. John Cyrier passed similar legislation through the House. Texas voters will have the opportunity to vote on a Constitutional Amendment this November to enshrine that funding.
TWA also worked on a bill to improve Chronic Wasting Disease management through unique traceable identification of breeder deer. Animal identification is the lynchpin of any disease monitoring and response system. We have worked countless hours with legislators, agency staff and various stakeholders to find a functional solution. Thanks to Sen. Charles Perry and Rep. John Cyrier a bill was passed to improve the animal identification standards for captive breeder deer.
Along the way, thousands and thousands of other bills are filed annually by members of the Legislature. Our volunteers, lobby team, and staff closely monitor those bills and provide guidance to the Legislature on them as needed. This includes everything from groundwater regulation to agency appropriations to landowner liability, and dozens of other matters. We take public policy advocacy very seriously. Rural landowners, conservationists, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts are the extreme minority in our rapidly changing state. TWA is committed to representing those interests every day.
In our experience, most Texas legislators have good hearts and want to do right by Texas, but many of them simply aren’t exposed to the issues we hold so dear. And so, TWA works year-round year after year to deliberately and systematically meet them and help provide that much needed rural perspective.
If you are a member of TWA, thank you. If you are not a member yet, please join. We need your support to keep doing important work on behalf of land, water, wildlife—and those who care for them.
