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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to fee waivers for certain hunting and fishing licenses |
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for honorably discharged veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 42.012(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or |
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license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years old, 65 |
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years old or older, or participating in an event that is sponsored |
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or co-sponsored by the department with the approval of the |
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director. The commission shall waive the fee for: |
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(1) an honorably discharged veteran of the United |
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States armed services; |
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(2) a qualified veteran with a disability; and |
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(3) [for] a resident on active duty as a member of the |
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United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, the |
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Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard. |
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SECTION 2. Section 46.004(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall waive the fee for: |
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(1) an honorably discharged veteran of the United |
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States armed services; |
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(2) a qualified veteran with a disability as defined |
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by Section 42.012; and |
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(3) [for] a resident on active duty as a member of the |
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United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, the |
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Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard. |
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SECTION 3. Section 50.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall waive the fee for an annual |
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combination hunting and fishing license for an honorably discharged |
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veteran of the United States armed services. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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only to a fee charged for a hunting or fishing license issued on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) A hunting or fishing license issued before the effective |
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date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the license was |
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issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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The Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to issue a refund |
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for any license issued before the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |