Rule Proposals

Current Proposals Archived Proposals

All regulations enacted by the Commission are acted on at its public meetings held quarterly. The rulemaking process entails two public actions with a proposal stage and an adoption stage. After the Commission authorizes the rule proposal, it is published in the Texas Register for a minimum of thirty days for comments specifically pertaining to the rule proposal.

The Texas Register is a weekly publication and serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code. The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) is a compilation of all state agency rules in Texas. Commission rules are located in Title 4 of the TAC.

When the Commission has rules that are open for comment, they will be posted below with a link to the actual rule proposal with information explaining the rule. Comments on the rule proposals or rule reviews may be submitted to Amanda Bernhard, Texas Animal Health Commission, by mail at 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512)-719-0719 or by email to comments@tahc.texas.gov. When commenting, please indicate in the subject line the intent to comment on the specific rule in reference.

Comments need to be received no later than the date indicated as the final date for receipt of comments. Once the comment period is closed the information regarding the proposal will remain archived on this page. If you have any questions, please contact the General Counsel at 512-719-0724 or Email.

Current Proposals

There are no rule proposals open for comment at this time.

Archived Rule Proposals

Archived rule proposals are for reference only, and may not reflect current rule language. To review current TAHC statutes and rules click here.

Rules proposed at the July 16, 2024 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - eliminate CWD surveillance zones and references and create new containment zones
Rules proposed at the April 30, 2024 Commission meeting
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements – female breeding and crossbred female breeding sheep genetic testing interstate movement requirement
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures – local law enforcement agencies enforcing TAHC entry requirements
Chapter 60, Scrapie – blackfaced sheep definition update to breeding sheep definition
Rules proposed at the January 23, 2024 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease – modify existing and create new movement restriction zones
Chapter 49, Equine – thoroughbred horses in sanctioned racing, piroplasmosis testing exception
Rules proposed at the April 4, 2023 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease -update surveillance and movement requirements for Exotic CWD Susceptible Species, repeal and replace CWD Herd Certification Program section
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - clarify CWD management practices, update geographic depictions of movement restriction zones
Chapter 32, Hearing and Appeal Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 36, Exotic Livestock and Fowl - Rule Review
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Rule Review
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Rule Review
Chapter 45, Reportable and Actionable Diseases - Rule Review
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel - Rule Review
Chapter 50, Animal Disease Traceability - Rule Review
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Rule Review
Chapter 56, Grants, Gifts and Donations - Rule Review
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 60, Scrapie - Rule Review
Rule proposed at the February 23, 2023 Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program Committee meeting
Chapter 42, Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program: Establish rules for the RVIP – View Proposal
Rules proposed at the November 15, 2022 Commission meeting
Chapter 35, Brucellosis: Remove additional brucellosis entry requirements for the Designated Surveillance Area - View Proposal
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease: Establish new and expand existing CWD containment zones, create new and modify existing CWD surveillance zones - View Proposal
Chapter 42, Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program: - View Proposal
Chapter 45, Reportable and Actionable Diseases: Add Malignant Catarrhal Fever caused by a ruminant gamma herpesvirus as a reportable disease - View Proposal
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements: Specify official identification for CVIs, increase testing age for dairy cattle moving into Texas - View Proposal
Rule proposed at the July 26, 2022 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis: Update information and procedures for the Trichomoniasis program and testing requirements - View Proposal
Rules proposed at the April 12, 2022 Commission meeting
Chapter 31, Anthrax - Rule Review
Chapter 34, Veterinary Biologics - Rule Review
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - Rule Review
Chapter 37, Screwworms - Rule Review
Chapter 39, Scabies - Rule Review
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease: Update information regarding CWD management and the CWD Herd Certification Program - View Proposal
Chapter 49, Equine - Rule Review
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements: Modify dairy calf movement requirements, update equine language - View Proposal
Chapter 58, Emergency Response and Management - Rule Review
Rules proposed at the September 21, 2021 Commission meeting
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements: Update the disease list reference, clarify CWD entry requirements, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View Proposal
Chapter 58, Emergency Response and Management: Update the disease list reference, clarify other language and definitions - View Proposal
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures: Update the disease list reference, add state employee sick leave and family leave pool - View Proposal
Rules proposed at the June 29, 2021 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees: Update language to recognize modern technology for obtaining CVIs, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease: Clarify, correct and update CWD management information, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 45, Reportable Diseases: List reportable diseases in new Reportable and Actionable Disease List section, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 46, Export-Import Facilities: Establish livestock export-import facilities reporting, recordkeeping, and movement requirements - View proposal
Chapter 53, Market Regulation: Remove specific brucellosis program references, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 55, Swine: Update swine disease, program, and regulations pertaining to livestock markets and slaughter plants information, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View Proposal
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures: Clarify public information request name and procedures - View Proposal
Rule proposed at the June 23, 2020 Commission meeting
Chapter, Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - establish CWD zones and replace Executive Order
Rules proposed at the December 10, 2019 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees - Rule Review
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - Rule Review
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Rule Review
Chapter 53, Market Regulations - Rule Review
Chapter 54, Domestic and Exotic Fowl Registration - Rule Review
Chapter 55, Swine - Rule Review
Chapter 57, Poultry - Rule Review
Rule proposed at the August 13, 2019 Commission meeting
Chapter, Chapter 44, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus - establish a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) program
Rules proposed at the May 21, 2019 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Three changes: testing, virgin certificate, and written disclosure
Chapter 44, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus - Establish a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus control program
Chapter 45, Reportable Disease - Add Bovine Viral Diarrhea as a reportable disease
Chapter 49, Equine - Adds electronic identification as official identification for equine
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Adds electronic identification as official identification for equine moving on equine passports
Rules proposed at the December 11, 2018 Commission meeting
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Removes the Brucellosis test requirement for farmed exotic cervidae to enter the state
Rules proposed at the December 11, 2018 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Rule Review
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Rule Review
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel - Rule Review
Chapter 50, Animal Disease Traceability - Rule Review
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Rule Review