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Signed Into Law
Signed May 30, 2025Effective 2025-09-01
SB1248

Regular Session

Relating to the disclosure of certain harvest report information submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Department.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

SB1248: Government Affairs Overview

SB1248 removes wildlife harvest reports from the public domain effective September 1, 2025, classifying this data as confidential and exempt from the Public Information Act. While this shields landowners and hunters from public scrutiny, it creates an immediate "supply chain" crisis for environmental consultants, mapping services, and biological analysts who rely on scraping public TPWD data. Access to raw harvest data will now require a specific government contract and a strict Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA).

Sen. Charles Perry·Senate Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01

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SB1248
Low
Relating to the disclosure of certain harvest report information submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Department.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
TPWD
Primary Author: Sen. Charles Perry
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: Immediate Action Required for Data Consumers. If your business relies on TPWD data streams, you must secure a contract with the agency *before* September 1. Post-September requests will be denied regardless of when the data was originally submitted.
  • Agency Rulemaking: While no formal rulemaking deadline is set, TPWD must internally define "appropriate activity" for granting third-party access. Expect policy guidance or "Contractor Access Protocols" to emerge in Summer 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Data Sources: Immediately identify if your business products or internal models rely on TPWD harvest reports obtained via Open Records requests.
  • Initiate Agency Contact: If dependent on this data, contact the TPWD Legal Division to request the application process for becoming a "contracted entity" for research/analysis.
  • Update Privacy Policies: Landowners and Outfitters should update client-facing privacy policies to reflect that harvest data submitted to the state is now statutorily confidential.
  • Segregate Data: If you hold historical harvest data, tag it internally. While you likely possess it legally now, future updates to that dataset will be restricted, requiring a bifurcated database structure.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • TPWD Data Agreements: Businesses requiring raw data (consultants, researchers) must negotiate and execute a contract with TPWD specifically authorizing access for "research, analysis, or another activity."
  • Downstream Client Agreements: If you sell analytics or mapping products derived from TPWD harvest reports, review your service agreements. You may need to invoke force majeure clauses or amend deliverables if you cannot secure a TPWD contract by September 1.
  • NDAs: Any entity granted access must sign a mandatory Nondisclosure Agreement with TPWD.

Hiring/Training

  • Data Handling Protocols: Staff accessing this data under contract must be trained on strict confidentiality. This data is no longer public record; leaking it is now a breach of contract and potentially actionable.
  • Segregation of Duties: IT teams must segregate TPWD harvest data from public-facing commercial datasets to prevent accidental publication.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Data Contributors (Landowners/Outfitters): No change to submission forms. You will continue to report harvest data as required by Chapters 42, 46, 50, and 71.
  • Data Consumers: You must maintain auditable records of who accesses the restricted data within your organization to comply with the state-mandated NDA.

Fees & Costs

  • Legal & Administrative: Budget for legal counsel to negotiate the data access contract and NDA with TPWD.
  • Operational: No new state fees are imposed, but the "free" pipeline of data via Open Records requests is eliminated.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Appropriate Activity" Discretion: Section 11.0305(e)(3) allows TPWD to release data for activities it deems "appropriate." The law does not define this. It is unclear if TPWD will restrict this to academic/biological research or if they will allow commercial land management consulting.
  • Statistical Granularity: The law permits the release of "statistical data" that does not identify specific locations or persons. TPWD has not yet defined the resolution limit of "statistical data." Businesses should watch for whether the agency releases data at the county, watershed, or precinct level, as this will determine the utility of the remaining public data.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 12, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 10, 2025
Passed House
May 20, 2025
Signed
May 30, 2025
Effective
Sep 1, 2025
TopicsAnimalsLaw EnforcementOpen RecordsParks & WildlifeParks & Wildlife--generalParks & Wildlife--hunting & FishingParks & Wildlife CommissionParks & Wildlife DepartmentCivil Remedies & Liabilities
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Charles PerryRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Angelia OrrRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1248

Q

What does Texas SB1248 do?

SB1248 removes wildlife harvest reports from the public domain effective September 1, 2025, classifying this data as confidential and exempt from the Public Information Act. While this shields landowners and hunters from public scrutiny, it creates an immediate "supply chain" crisis for environmental consultants, mapping services, and biological analysts who rely on scraping public TPWD data. Access to raw harvest data will now require a specific government contract and a strict Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA).

Q

Who authored SB1248?

SB1248 was authored by Texas Senator Charles Perry during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1248 signed into law?

SB1248 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 30, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1248?

SB1248 is enforced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Q

How significant are the changes in SB1248?

The regulatory priority for SB1248 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1248?

The cost impact of SB1248 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1248 address?

SB1248 addresses topics including animals, law enforcement, open records, parks & wildlife and parks & wildlife--general.

Q

What are the key dates for SB1248?

Key dates for SB1248: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026