December 2022

Kelly Crouch, CFA Legislative Information Liaison
Sharon Coleman, CFA Legislative Legal Analyst

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) closed comments on proposed rules changes November 2022 to bring the rules into compliance with the 2021 House Bill 1560, the enacted Sunset bill for the Department. What’s Hot has previously covered the 2020 Texas Sunset Commission legislative oversite of the TDLR including its Licensed Breeder Program (see references below). The Commission’s Report originally recommended eliminating the Program for failing to meaningfully protect the public. That did not happen nor were Program specific bills enacted in the 2021 Legislature. 

These rules changes would apply to all licensees, including licensed breeders. The new rules would require inspections to be performed during regular operational hours of the licensee. The inspection could be performed with or without notice and would allow TDLR to use alternative inspections methods such as videoconferencing. Licensees, applicants, and others must cooperate while inspections are conducted. Upon completion of the inspection, TDLR will provide written results of the inspection. Different procedures may be required in individual program rules which the Licensed Breeder Program has. For now, the licensing threshold remains as defined in the Statute: Cat and dog breeder means “a person who possesses 11 or more adult intact female animals and is engaged in the business of breeding those animals for direct or indirect sale or for exchange in return for consideration and who sells or exchanges, or offers to sell or exchange, not fewer than 20 animals in a calendar year.”

What’s Hot Sunset coverage: July 2020 and July 2021

Texas Breeder Rules in the Administrative Code