86R15473 SLB-D

By: Lucio S.B. No. 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the expiration date of hunting and fishing licenses, stamps, permits, or tags.

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

SECTION 1. Section 42.0175(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A license issued under this chapter, other than a lifetime resident hunting license or a nonresident five-day special hunting license, is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [only during the yearly period for which the license is issued without regard to the date on which a license is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or on another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. A license issued under this chapter other than a nonresident five-day special hunting license that is issued before September 1 or another date set by the commission and does not expire until August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission is valid from the date of issuance through August 31 of the following year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 2. Sections 42.022(a) and (d), Parks and Wildlife Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) No person may acquire or possess more than one hunting license during a license year. [For purposes of this section, a violation does not occur unless a person acquires or possesses more than one license having the same expiration date.]

(d) For purposes of this section, a license year begins on the date the license is issued [September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission].

SECTION 3. Section 43.045, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.045. DURATION OF LICENSE. A hunting lease license is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [the period from September 1 or another date set by the commission through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this subchapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 4. Section 43.0722(f), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(f) The private bird hunting area license is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [from September 1 or another date set by the commission through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this subchapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 5. Section 43.201(e), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) A stamp issued under this subchapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the stamp is issued [hunting only during the yearly period for which the stamp is issued without regard to the date on which the stamp is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a stamp fee for a stamp issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this subchapter and provide for a stamp term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 6. Section 43.4035(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection [(b) or] (c), a stamp issued under this subchapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the stamp is issued [fishing only during the yearly period for which the stamp is issued without regard to the date on which the stamp is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a stamp fee for a stamp issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this subchapter and provide for a stamp term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 7. Section 43.654(g), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(g) A stamp issued under this subchapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the stamp is issued [hunting only during the yearly period for which the stamp is issued, without regard to the date on which the stamp is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 of the year in which the stamp is issued or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission].

SECTION 8. Section 43.806(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection [(b) or] (c), a freshwater fishing stamp is valid for one year beginning on the date the stamp is issued [fishing only during the yearly period for which the stamp is issued, without regard to the date on which the stamp is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 of the year in which the stamp is issued or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a stamp fee for a stamp issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this subchapter and provide for a stamp term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than one year].

SECTION 9. Section 43.901(e), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) A stamp issued under this subchapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the stamp is issued [only during the yearly period for which the stamp is issued without regard to the date on which the stamp is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission].

SECTION 10. Sections 46.007(a) and (b), Parks and Wildlife Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b), (c), [(d),] (e), and (f) of this section, a license required or authorized by this subchapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [only during the yearly period for which it is issued without regard to the date on which the license is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this section and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

(b) A license issued under Section 46.005 or 46.0051 [of this code] is valid for the number of consecutive days authorized on the license [and does not necessarily expire on August 31 or another date set by the commission].

SECTION 11. Section 50.0021(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection [Subsections (b) and] (c) of this section, a license required or authorized by this chapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [only during the yearly period for which the license is issued without regard to the date on which the license is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 12. Section 65.0071, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 65.0071. EXPIRATION OF LICENSES. A license issued under this chapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [only during the yearly period for which the license is issued without regard to the date on which the license is acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 13. Section 66.017(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) All licenses, tags, and permits issued under [the authority of Chapter 66 of] this chapter [code] are valid for one year beginning on the date the license, tag, or permit is issued [only during the yearly period for which they are issued without regard to the date on which the licenses are acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 14. Section 71.010, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 71.010. LICENSE PERIOD. A [The] license [period for licenses] issued under this chapter is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [September 1 or another date set by the commission through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission, and a license is current and valid only for the license period for which it is issued. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 15. Section 76.1031(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A license [All licenses] issued under this chapter is [the authority of Chapter 76 of this code are] valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [only during the yearly period for which they are issued without regard to the date on which the licenses are acquired. Each yearly period begins on September 1 or another date set by the commission and extends through August 31 of the next year or another date set by the commission. The commission by rule may set the amount of a license fee for a license issued during a transition period at an amount lower than prescribed in this chapter and provide for a license term for a transition period that is shorter or longer than a year].

SECTION 16. Section 77.048(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The individual bait-shrimp trawl license is valid for one year beginning on the date the license is issued [expires on August 31 following the date of issuance].

SECTION 17. The following provisions of the Parks and Wildlife Code are repealed:

(1) Section 43.4035(b);

(2) Section 43.806(b);

(3) Section 46.007(d); and

(4) Section 50.0021(b).

SECTION 18. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a license, stamp, permit, or tag issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department on or after the effective date of this Act. A license, stamp, permit, or tag issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the license, stamp, permit, or tag was issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 19. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.