SB1248

Regular Session

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

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

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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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsAnimals Law Enforcement Open Records Parks & Wildlife Parks & Wildlife--general Parks & Wildlife--hunting & Fishing Parks & Wildlife Commission Parks & Wildlife Department Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1248
89R4720 BEE-F	By: Perry
	Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
	3/5/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 1248 protects specific harvest location information submitted by hunters and anglers in a digital license tag.

In 2021, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) was authorized to implement a system of digital tagging. TPWD currently offers this option for harvested deer, turkey, and red drum. In March 2025, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is expected to take action to expand digital tagging across all license types. Harvest location data collected from digital tagging (down the pinpoint latitude and longitude), as well as data from mandatory and voluntary reporting, is currently subject to open records disclosure. This lack of privacy has the potential to affect the trust between TPWD and its regulated community. It also creates a barrier to the collection of accurate harvest data, which is critical for wildlife population management.

S.B. 1248 provides a narrow exception to the Open Records Act by specifically exempting location information from disclosure as part of a harvest report. This bill then identifies the entities and instances in which TPWD may release harvest report location data. These include release to both federal and state law enforcement bodies, as well as in aggregate form that maintains the confidentiality of the specific landowner's location.

As proposed, S.B. 1248 amends current law relating to the disclosure of certain harvest report information submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Department.

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 11.0305, as follows:

Sec. 11.0305.� DISCLOSURE OF HARVEST REPORT INFORMATION.� (a)� Prohibits information from a report submitted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) relating to the recreational harvest authorized by certain chapters of the Parks and Wildlife Code of game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals, alligators, or fish or other aquatic life, including the specific location of harvested wildlife, from being disclosed except as authorized by this section or Section 12.014 (Notice of Wildlife Disease Outbreak).

(b) Provides that Chapter 552 (Public Information), Government Code, does not apply to information from a report described by Subsection (a).

(c) Authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission or TPWD to disclose information from a report described by Subsection (a) to a federal or state law enforcement agency if the agency provides a lawfully issued subpoena.

(d) Authorizes TPWD to disclose statistical data and compilations of information from a report described by Subsection (a) in a manner that does not identify any person who submitted the report or harvested wildlife as described in the report or any specific location information, including a photograph, that could be used to identify the location where the harvest of wildlife described in the report occurred.

(e) Authorizes TPWD to disclose information from a report described by Subsection (a) only to an individual identified in the report or that individual's representative; another governmental body, including a law enforcement entity, as needed to carry out a governmental purpose; or an entity contracted with TPWD that has signed a nondisclosure agreement prohibiting the entity from disclosing information from the report, if necessary for research, analysis, or another activity TPWD determines to be appropriate.

(f) Provides that this section does not authorize TPWD to disclose information TPWD is prohibited from disclosing by other law.

(g) Provides that TPWD and its officers and employees are immune from civil liability for an unintentional violation of this section.

(h) Provides that, in this section, a reference to TPWD includes a reference to an agent of TPWD.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Charles PerryRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Angelia OrrRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 1248

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the disclosure of certain harvest report information
	submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Department.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
	Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0305 to read as follows:
	Sec. 11.0305. DISCLOSURE OF HARVEST REPORT INFORMATION.
	(a) Information from a report submitted to the department relating
	to the recreational harvest authorized by Chapter 42, 46, 50, or 71
	of game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals,
	alligators, or fish or other aquatic life, including the specific
	location of harvested wildlife, may not be disclosed except as
	authorized by this section or Section 12.014.
	(b) Chapter 552, Government Code, does not apply to
	information from a report described by Subsection (a).
	(c) The commission or the department may disclose
	information from a report described by Subsection (a) to a federal
	or state law enforcement agency if the agency provides a lawfully
	issued subpoena.
	(d) The department may disclose statistical data and
	compilations of information from a report described by Subsection
	(a) in a manner that does not identify:
	(1) any person who:
	(A) submitted the report; or
	(B) harvested wildlife as described in the
	report; or
	(2) any specific location information, including a
	photograph, that could be used to identify the location where the
	harvest of wildlife described in the report occurred.
	(e) The department may disclose information from a report
	described by Subsection (a) only to:
	(1) an individual identified in the report or that
	individual's representative;
	(2) another governmental body, including a law
	enforcement entity, as needed to carry out a governmental purpose;
	or
	(3) an entity contracted with the department that has
	signed a nondisclosure agreement prohibiting the entity from
	disclosing information from the report, if necessary for research,
	analysis, or another activity the department determines to be
	appropriate.
	(f) This section does not authorize the department to
	disclose information the department is prohibited from disclosing
	by other law.
	(g) The department and its officers and employees are immune
	from civil liability for an unintentional violation of this
	section.
	(h) In this section, a reference to the department includes
	a reference to an agent of the department.
	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
	disclosure by the Parks and Wildlife Department of information in a
	report described by Section 11.0305(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, as
	added by this Act, that is made on or after the effective date of
	this Act, regardless of when the report containing the information
	was submitted to the department.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 7, 2025

TO:	Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB1248 by Perry (Relating to the disclosure of certain harvest report information submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Department.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JMc, FV, MW, RSTE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1248

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).

Who authored SB1248?

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

When was SB1248 signed into law?

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

Which agencies enforce SB1248?

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

How urgent is compliance with SB1248?

The compliance urgency for SB1248 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

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.

What topics does SB1248 address?

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

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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