BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2801

By: Hughes

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that, while current Texas law requires each individual participating in certain competitive field trial events in which dogs chase or pursue squirrels, nongame animals, and fur-bearing animals to obtain a hunting license, other states have created event permits that waive certain hunting license requirements when weapons are not carried and animals are not taken or harvested. Texas currently provides for a similar permit with respect to banded pen-reared birds. S.B. 2801 seeks to similarly provide for such a permit applicable to sanctioned field trial events using a hunting dog to chase or pursue squirrels, nongame animals, and fur-bearing animals.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2801 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize a person to apply to the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in the manner prescribed by rules of the Parks and Wildlife Commission for a field trial permit exempting registered participants in a field trial held by the person from general hunting license requirements while the individuals are participating in the field trial. The bill defines "field trial" as a competitive hunting dog event where dogs chase or pursue the following animals under field conditions:

· fur-bearing animals as defined by reference to provisions governing such animals;

· animals that are considered nongame as defined by reference to provisions governing nongame species; or

· gray or cat squirrels, fox squirrels, or red squirrels.

S.B. 2801 authorizes TPWD to issue a field trial permit only for a field trial held on privately owned land or on public land authorized under rules adopted by the commission under the bill's provisions. The bill requires an application for a field trial permit to be on a form prescribed by TPWD and contain the following information:

· the name and address of the applicant;

· the address of the property on which the field trial is to be held;

· the species of wildlife to be pursued in the field trial;

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

· any other information required by TPWD.

The bill exempts an individual registered to participate in a field trial held under a field trial permit from general hunting license requirements while the individual is participating in the field trial. The bill establishes that a field trial permit is valid for a period of nine consecutive days and only on the land specified in the permit. The bill sets the fee for a field trial permit at $50 and requires TPWD to deposit to the credit of the game, fish, and water safety account all revenue, less allowable costs, from field trial permit fees.

S.B. 2801 sets out provisions that do the following:

· requires the commission to adopt rules specifying the public lands for which a field trial permit may be issued;

· authorizes the commission to adopt rules as necessary to administer the bill's provisions providing to the issuance of a field trial permit, including rules necessary to manage and protect wildlife subject to a field trial permit; and

· requires the commission to adopt rules necessary to implement those bill's provisions as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date.

The bill establishes that, to the extent of any conflict, the bill's provisions prevail over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.