Bill Text: TX HB1117 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to an exemption to the fishing license requirement for certain residents engaged in fishing in public waters.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB1117 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1117-Introduced.html

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89R3318 BEE-D
By: VanDeaver H.B. No. 1117

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an exemption to the fishing license requirement for
certain residents engaged in fishing in public waters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 46.002(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A license issued under this chapter is not required of a
person:
(1) who is a resident and whose birth date is before
January 1, 1931;
(2) who is a nonresident, if the person's birth date is
before September 1, 1930, and the person's state of residence
grants a similar age exemption to Texas residents;
(3) with a mental illness or developmental or
intellectual disability who is engaged in recreational fishing as
part of medically approved therapy under the immediate supervision
of personnel approved or employed by a hospital, residence, or
school for persons with mental illnesses or developmental or
intellectual disabilities;
(4) with a mental illness or developmental or
intellectual disability who is engaged in recreational fishing
under the immediate supervision of a person who:
(A) holds a license issued under this chapter;
and
(B) if not a member of the family of the person
with a mental illness or developmental or intellectual disability,
has the permission of the family head or legal guardian of the
person with a mental illness or developmental or intellectual
disability to take the person with a mental illness or
developmental or intellectual disability fishing;
(5) who is participating in an event that is sponsored
or co-sponsored by the department with the approval of the
director; [or]
(6) who is a resident and who is a veteran of the
United States armed forces, if the person is acting under Section
11.208 and complying with rules adopted under that section; or
(7) who is a resident 70 years of age or older and who
is engaged in fishing in the public water of this state.
SECTION 2. The Parks and Wildlife Department is not
required to issue a refund to a person described by Section
46.002(a)(7), Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, for a
fishing license, stamp, or package issued to the person before the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.