Bill Text: TX SB1285 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the protection of bats.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-14 - Filed [SB1285 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB1285-Introduced.html
| 89R9357 MP-F | ||
| By: Eckhardt | S.B. No. 1285 | |
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| relating to the protection of bats. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 63.101, Parks and Wildlife Code, is | ||
| amended to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 63.101. PROTECTION OF BATS. (a) Except as provided by | ||
| Subsections (b), (b-1), and (c), a [ |
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| (1) confine or hunt a bat; or | ||
| (2) sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase, | ||
| or possess after purchase a bat or any part of a bat, dead or alive. | ||
| (b) Subject to Subsection (b-1), a [ |
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| hunted if the bat is inside or on a building occupied by people. | ||
| (b-1) A bat or bat colony using a building or structure as a | ||
| roost site may be controlled only by a nonlethal exclusion method | ||
| that allows bats to leave but not reenter the building or structure. | ||
| The exclusion method described by this subsection may not be | ||
| implemented during the period each year beginning May 1 and ending | ||
| August 31. | ||
| (c) This section does not apply to: | ||
| (1) an animal control officer, a peace officer, a | ||
| licensed pest control professional, or a health official who | ||
| captures a bat that the officer, professional, or official | ||
| considers injured or diseased; or | ||
| (2) a person who transports a bat for the purpose of: | ||
| (A) laboratory testing if the bat has exposed or | ||
| potentially exposed humans or domestic animals to rabies; or | ||
| (B) rehabilitation at a registered | ||
| rehabilitation facility if the bat has had no known prior exposure | ||
| with humans | ||
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| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
