Relating to a permit issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department for certain hunting dog field trials; authorizing a fee, the official text

S.B. No. 2801

AN ACT

relating to a permit issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department for

certain hunting dog field trials; authorizing a fee.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended

by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J. FIELD TRIAL PERMIT

Sec. 43.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Field trial" means a competitive hunting dog

event where dogs chase or pursue squirrels, fur-bearing animals, or

nongame animals under field conditions.

(2) "Field trial permit" means a permit issued under

Section 43.252.

(3) "Fur-bearing animal" has the meaning assigned by

Section 71.001.

(4) "Nongame" has the meaning assigned by Section

67.001.

(5) "Squirrel" means gray or cat squirrels, fox

squirrels, or red squirrels.

Sec. 43.252. FIELD TRIAL PERMIT. (a) A person may apply to

the department in the manner prescribed by commission rules for a

permit under this section exempting registered participants in a

field trial held by the person from the hunting license

requirements of Chapter 42 while the individuals are participating

in the field trial.

(b) The department may issue a permit under this section

only for a field trial held on privately owned land or on public

land authorized under commission rules adopted under Section

43.253(a).

(c) An application for a field trial permit must:

(1) be on a form prescribed by the department; and

(2) contain the following information:

(A) the name and address of the applicant;

(B) the address of the property on which the

field trial is to be held;

(C) the species of wildlife to be pursued in the

field trial;

(D) if applicable, the name of the hunting dog

club or organization sanctioning the field trial; and

(E) any other information required by the

department.

(d) The fee for a field trial permit is $50.

(e) A field trial permit is valid:

(1) for a period of nine consecutive days; and

(2) only on the land specified in the permit.

Sec. 43.253. COMMISSION RULES. (a) The commission shall

adopt rules specifying the public lands for which a field trial

permit may be issued.

(b) The commission may adopt rules as necessary to

administer this subchapter, including rules necessary to manage and

protect wildlife subject to a field trial permit.

Sec. 43.254. HUNTING LICENSE NOT REQUIRED DURING FIELD

TRIAL. An individual registered to participate in a field trial

held under a field trial permit is exempt from the hunting license

requirements of Chapter 42 while the individual is participating in

the field trial.

SECTION 2. Section 11.032(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as

amended by Chapters 235 (H.B. 2755) and 334 (H.B. 4018), Acts of the

88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended

to read as follows:

(b) The department shall deposit to the credit of the game,

fish, and water safety account all revenue, less allowable costs,

from the following sources:

(1) all types of fishing licenses and stamps and

shrimping licenses;

(2) all types of hunting licenses and stamps;

(3) trapping licenses and other licenses relating to

the taking, propagation, and sale of fur-bearing animals or their

pelts;

(4) sale of marl, sand, gravel, shell, and mudshell;

(5) oyster bed rentals and permits;

(6) federal funds received for fish and wildlife

research, management, development and conservation, resource

protection, and law enforcement, unless the funds are received for

the specific purposes of Subchapter F, Chapter 77;

(7) sale of property, less advertising costs,

purchased from this account or a special fund or account that is now

part of this account;

(8) fines and penalties collected for violations of a

law pertaining to the protection and conservation of wild birds,

wild fowl, wild animals, fish, shrimp, oysters, game birds and

animals, fur-bearing animals, alligators, and any other wildlife

resources of this state;

(9) sale of rough fish by the department;

(10) fees for importation permits;

(11) fees from supplying fish for or placing fish in

water located on private property;

(12) sale of seized pelts;

(13) sale or lease of grazing rights to and the

products from game preserves, sanctuaries, and management areas;

(14) contracts for the removal of fur-bearing animals

and reptiles from wildlife management areas;

(15) vessel registration fees;

(16) vessel manufacturer or dealer licensing fees;

(17) fines or penalties imposed by a court for

violation of water safety laws contained in Chapter 31 of this code;

(18) alligator hunter's or alligator buyer's licenses;

(19) sale of alligators or any part of an alligator by

the department;

(20) fees and revenue collected under Section

11.027(b) or (c) of this code that are associated with the

conservation of fish and wildlife;

(21) fees related to cultivated oyster mariculture;

(22) vessel and outboard motor titling fees;

(23) participation fees collected under Section

43.976;

(24) money received by the department from:

(A) boater education program courses and

examinations administered under Section 31.108; and

(B) boater education deferrals issued under the

program established under Section 31.110(c); [and]

(25) [(24)] money received by the department from

carbon sequestration or similar ecosystem services projects

described by Section 11.302(b)(1);

(26) field trial permit fees collected under

Subchapter J, Chapter 43; and

(27) [(25)] any other source provided by law.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules

necessary to implement Subchapter J, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife

Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails

over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,

relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted

codes.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2801 passed the Senate on

May 1, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2801 passed the House on

May 23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 0, one

present not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor