SB384

Regular Session

Relating to making a donation to the operation game thief fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (POS systems must be live with new options on this date).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) must operationalize these changes by the effective date. Watch for TPWD guidance issued between July and August 2025 regarding the specific layout of the "first page" requirement for digital portals.

Immediate Action Plan

Immediately: Notify your IT department or POS vendor of the September 1 hard deadline for the new UI requirements.
Q2 2025: Create a specific General Ledger code for "Operation Game Thief Donations" to ensure these funds are excluded from your gross revenue calculations.
August 1, 2025: Distribute updated training memos to store operations managers detailing the new checkout script.
August 15, 2025: Conduct a test transaction to verify the donation triggers the correct line item on the receipt.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

License Deputy Agreements: Expect amendments to your authorized agent agreement with TPWD to mandate the presentation of donation options.
Vendor SLAs: If you utilize third-party POS software for license issuance, issue a change order immediately to ensure the specific donation logic ($1, $5, $10, $20) is coded and tested.

Hiring/Training

Cashier Scripting: Staff must be trained to verbally prompt the customer or direct them to the donation screen during the transaction.
Reconciliation Training: Managers must be trained to identify these funds as non-revenue pass-throughs during end-of-day reconciliation to prevent accounting errors.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Receipt Generation: Customer receipts must list the donation as a distinct line item for tax deduction purposes and to separate it from your gross taxable revenue.
Remittance Schedules: Ensure your accounting cycle aligns with TPWD’s requirement to deposit these funds into the state fund by the 14th day of the following month.

Fees & Costs

Merchant Processing Absorption: The statute allows TPWD to deduct administrative costs but does not extend this right to vendors. You will likely absorb credit card processing fees (approx. 2-3%) on the donation amounts, as you must remit the full face value of the donation to the state.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

"First Page" Definition: The law requires the donation option on the "first page" of the application. For digital kiosks and small-screen POS terminals, the definition of "first page" is legally ambiguous. Guidance: Do not bury this option in a sub-menu; place it on the initial data entry screen to avoid non-compliance citations.
Refund Protocols: The statute is silent regarding the refundability of the donation if a license transaction is voided. Guidance: Treat donations as non-refundable once the transaction is finalized unless TPWD issues contrary rulemaking.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsParks & Wildlife Parks & Wildlife--hunting & Fishing Parks & Wildlife--licenses State Finances State Finances--management & Control Parks & Wildlife Department Gifts & Donations

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 384
89R4303 MP-F	By: Flores
	Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
	2/19/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Operation Game Thief is Texas' wildlife Crime-stoppers program, offering rewards of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for a wildlife crime. The program was established in 1981 as a result of laws passed by the 67th Legislature to help curtail poaching. The program, a function of the law enforcement division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is highly successful.

The program is privately funded and dependent on financial support from the public through the purchase of OGT memberships and merchandise, donations, sponsorships, and gifts.

S.B. 384 allows those applying for a hunting or fishing license to voluntarily contribute money to the Operation Game Thief fund, to assist in obtaining information leading to the arrest and conviction of poachers.

As proposed, S.B. 384 amends current law relating to making a donation to the operation game thief fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license.

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 C, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code, by adding Section 12.207, as follows:

Sec. 12.207. DONATION TO FUND BY HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE APPLICANT. (a) Authorizes an applicant for a hunting or a fishing license of any type under the Parks and Wildlife Code, including a combination hunting and fishing license, to make a donation of $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the operation game thief fund when applying for the license.

(b) Requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to:

(1) include space on the first page of each application for a hunting or fishing license that allows an applicant to indicate that the applicant is donating $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the operation game thief fund; and

(2) provide an opportunity for an applicant for a hunting or fishing license to donate $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the operation game thief fund through TPWD's Internet website.

(c) Requires TPWD to deposit a donation made under this section in the operation game thief fund not later than the 14th day of each month. Authorizes TPWD, before depositing the money, to deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for developing and administering this section.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Peter FloresRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (2)

House Sponsors

Rep. Angelia OrrRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Joint Sponsors

Cody Vasut (R)

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 384

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to making a donation to the operation game thief fund when
	applying for a hunting or fishing license.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife
	Code, is amended by adding Section 12.207 to read as follows:
	Sec. 12.207. DONATION TO FUND BY HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE
	APPLICANT. (a) An applicant for a hunting or fishing license of
	any type under this code, including a combination hunting and
	fishing license, may make a donation of $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the
	operation game thief fund when applying for the license.
	(b) The department shall:
	(1) include space on the first page of each
	application for a hunting or fishing license that allows an
	applicant to indicate that the applicant is donating $1, $5, $10, or
	$20 to the operation game thief fund; and
	(2) provide an opportunity for an applicant for a
	hunting or fishing license to donate $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the
	operation game thief fund through the department's Internet
	website.
	(c) The department shall deposit a donation made under this
	section in the operation game thief fund not later than the 14th day
	of each month. Before depositing the money, the department may
	deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for
	developing and administering this section, not to exceed three
	percent of the amount deposited.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


February 21, 2025

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

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB384 by Flores (Relating to making a donation to the operation game thief fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license.), 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. The revenue impact of the bill would be dependent on the number and amount of any donations to the fund.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JMc, FV, MW, RSTE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB384

What does Texas SB384 do?

SB384 mandates that all Texas hunting and fishing license vendors integrate specific voluntary donation tiers ($1, $5, $10, $20) for the Operation Game Thief Fund into the application process. Effective September 1, 2025, this requirement compels all authorized license agents—from big-box retailers to independent bait shops—to update Point-of-Sale (POS) software and modify cashier workflows to ensure compliance with state remittance statutes. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (POS systems must be live with new options on this date).

Who authored SB384?

SB384 was authored by Texas Senator Peter Flores during the Regular Session.

When was SB384 signed into law?

SB384 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 15, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB384?

SB384 is enforced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

How urgent is compliance with SB384?

The compliance urgency for SB384 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB384?

The cost impact of SB384 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB384 address?

SB384 addresses topics including parks & wildlife, parks & wildlife--hunting & fishing, parks & wildlife--licenses, state finances and state finances--management & control.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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