BILL ANALYSIS
| Senate Research Center | S.B. 1247 |
| 89R4721 MF-F | By: Perry |
| | Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs |
| | 3/27/2025 |
| | As Filed |
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 1247 gives the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) more flexibility to manage nonresident hunting licenses, making the system simpler and more efficient.
Currently, Texas offers multiple types of nonresident hunting licenses, including separate permits for general hunting, special hunting, and spring turkey hunting. S.B. 1247 fixes this by giving TPWC the same flexibility it has with other licenses, by allowing TPWC to adjust fees and categories as needed.
With this update, Texas will maintain the lowest nonresident hunting license costs compared to other states, even with a slight price adjustment for some out-of-state hunters. The estimated impact is a $1 million increase in revenue for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), which will support wildlife management efforts across the state.
By modernizing Texas' approach to nonresident hunting licenses, S.B. 1247 promotes efficiency, ensures fair pricing, and strengthens TPWD's ability to manage hunting regulations for the benefit of all hunters and conservation efforts.
As proposed, S.B. 1247 amends current law relating to consolidating certain nonresident hunting licenses.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 41.003(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, to authorize a person who holds a nonresident sport fishing license or a nonresident general hunting license issued by this state or a border state to be extended the same privileges as those extended a resident license holder under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 42.005(a), (b), and (e), Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:
(a) Includes alligators among the animals which a nonresident of Texas is prohibited from hunting without first having acquired a nonresident general hunting license. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
(b) Prohibits a nonresident, except as provided by Subsection (f) (relating to authorizing certain persons to take feral hogs without having acquired a hunting license), from hunting any bird or animal in this state without first having acquired a nonresident general hunting license or a nonresident five-day hunting license, rather than a general nonresident hunting license, a nonresident special hunting license, or a nonresident five-day special hunting license.
(e) Prohibits a nonresident from acquiring or possessing during a license year more than one nonresident general hunting license. Deletes existing text prohibiting a nonresident from acquiring or possessing during a license year more than one nonresident spring turkey hunting license or a general nonresident hunting license and a nonresident spring turkey hunting license.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 42.0141, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:
Sec. 42.0141. New heading: NONRESIDENT GENERAL HUNTING LICENSE FEE. Makes a conforming change to this section.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 42.0143, Parks and Wildlife Code, as follows:
Sec. 42.0143. New heading: NONRESIDENT FIVE-DAY HUNTING LICENSE. (a) Provides that a nonresident five-day hunting license is not valid for a mule deer, white-tailed deer, turkey, pronghorn antelope, desert bighorn sheep, or alligator.
(b) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes a conforming change.
(c) Authorizes a nonresident to acquire multiple nonresident five-day hunting licenses during a license year.
(d) Creates this subsection from existing text. Provides that the fee for a nonresident five-day hunting license is set by the Parks and Wildlife Commission in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the amount of the fee set for a nonresident general, rather than special, hunting license. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 42.0175(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, to make conforming changes.
SECTION 6. Amends Section 42.022(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, to delete existing text providing that Section 42.022 (One License for Each Year) does not apply to the acquisition and possession by a nonresident of more than one nonresident hunting license if the nonresident does not acquire or possess during a license year more than one nonresident spring turkey hunting license or both a nonresident general hunting license and a nonresident spring turkey hunting license.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 49.010(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 8. Repealer: Section 42.005(d) (relating to prohibiting a nonresident from hunting a turkey during a certain time without first acquiring a certain license), Parks and Wildlife Code.
Repealers: Sections 42.014 (Nonresident Special Hunting License Fee) and 42.0142 (Nonresident Banded Bird Hunting License for Hunting on a Private Bird Hunting Area), Parks and Wildlife Code.
Repealer: Section 42.0144 (Nonresident Spring Turkey Hunting License Fee), Parks and Wildlife Code.
SECTION 9. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
