S.B. No. 2801

AN ACT

relating to a permit issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department for certain hunting dog field trials; authorizing a fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J. FIELD TRIAL PERMIT

Sec. 43.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Field trial" means a competitive hunting dog event where dogs chase or pursue squirrels, fur-bearing animals, or nongame animals under field conditions.

(2) "Field trial permit" means a permit issued under Section 43.252.

(3) "Fur-bearing animal" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.001.

(4) "Nongame" has the meaning assigned by Section 67.001.

(5) "Squirrel" means gray or cat squirrels, fox squirrels, or red squirrels.

Sec. 43.252. FIELD TRIAL PERMIT. (a) A person may apply to the department in the manner prescribed by commission rules for a permit under this section exempting registered participants in a field trial held by the person from the hunting license requirements of Chapter 42 while the individuals are participating in the field trial.

(b) The department may issue a permit under this section only for a field trial held on privately owned land or on public land authorized under commission rules adopted under Section 43.253(a).

(c) An application for a field trial permit must:

(1) be on a form prescribed by the department; and

(2) contain the following information:

(A) the name and address of the applicant;

(B) the address of the property on which the field trial is to be held;

(C) the species of wildlife to be pursued in the field trial;

(D) if applicable, the name of the hunting dog club or organization sanctioning the field trial; and

(E) any other information required by the department.

(d) The fee for a field trial permit is $50.

(e) A field trial permit is valid:

(1) for a period of nine consecutive days; and

(2) only on the land specified in the permit.

Sec. 43.253. COMMISSION RULES. (a) The commission shall adopt rules specifying the public lands for which a field trial permit may be issued.

(b) The commission may adopt rules as necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules necessary to manage and protect wildlife subject to a field trial permit.

Sec. 43.254. HUNTING LICENSE NOT REQUIRED DURING FIELD TRIAL. An individual registered to participate in a field trial held under a field trial permit is exempt from the hunting license requirements of Chapter 42 while the individual is participating in the field trial.

SECTION 2. Section 11.032(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended by Chapters 235 (H.B. 2755) and 334 (H.B. 4018), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(b) The department shall deposit to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account all revenue, less allowable costs, from the following sources:

(1) all types of fishing licenses and stamps and shrimping licenses;

(2) all types of hunting licenses and stamps;

(3) trapping licenses and other licenses relating to the taking, propagation, and sale of fur-bearing animals or their pelts;

(4) sale of marl, sand, gravel, shell, and mudshell;

(5) oyster bed rentals and permits;

(6) federal funds received for fish and wildlife research, management, development and conservation, resource protection, and law enforcement, unless the funds are received for the specific purposes of Subchapter F, Chapter 77;

(7) sale of property, less advertising costs, purchased from this account or a special fund or account that is now part of this account;

(8) fines and penalties collected for violations of a law pertaining to the protection and conservation of wild birds, wild fowl, wild animals, fish, shrimp, oysters, game birds and animals, fur-bearing animals, alligators, and any other wildlife resources of this state;

(9) sale of rough fish by the department;

(10) fees for importation permits;

(11) fees from supplying fish for or placing fish in water located on private property;

(12) sale of seized pelts;

(13) sale or lease of grazing rights to and the products from game preserves, sanctuaries, and management areas;

(14) contracts for the removal of fur-bearing animals and reptiles from wildlife management areas;

(15) vessel registration fees;

(16) vessel manufacturer or dealer licensing fees;

(17) fines or penalties imposed by a court for violation of water safety laws contained in Chapter 31 of this code;

(18) alligator hunter's or alligator buyer's licenses;

(19) sale of alligators or any part of an alligator by the department;

(20) fees and revenue collected under Section 11.027(b) or (c) of this code that are associated with the conservation of fish and wildlife;

(21) fees related to cultivated oyster mariculture;

(22) vessel and outboard motor titling fees;

(23) participation fees collected under Section 43.976;

(24) money received by the department from:

(A) boater education program courses and examinations administered under Section 31.108; and

(B) boater education deferrals issued under the program established under Section 31.110(c); [and]

(25) [(24)] money received by the department from carbon sequestration or similar ecosystem services projects described by Section 11.302(b)(1);

(26) field trial permit fees collected under Subchapter J, Chapter 43; and

(27) [(25)] any other source provided by law.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement Subchapter J, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2801 passed the Senate on May 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2801 passed the House on May 23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor