SB 1247 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to consolidating certain nonresident hunting licenses.

This bill consolidates Texas nonresident hunting license categories by removing outdated terms like "nonresident special" and standardizing them as "nonresident hunting license" throughout the Parks and Wildlife Code. It sets a $100.75 fee for the general nonresident license (or higher if set by the commission) and clarifies that a nonresident five-day hunting license fee cannot exceed 50% of the general license fee. The bill repeals redundant sections (42.014, 42.0142, 42.0144) and prohibits nonresidents from holding multiple general licenses or combining general and spring turkey licenses in a single year. It directly affects nonresident hunters seeking to hunt in Texas, simplifying license requirements and fees effective September 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed May 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · May 30, 2025
MODERATE
This bill consolidates nonresident hunting license types in Texas by removing the distinction between 'special' and 'general' licenses, simplifying the system to just general and five-day licenses. The changes streamline eligibility rules and clarify fee structures while maintaining the same core restrictions on hunting certain species without proper licensing.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on nonresident hunting licenses, but the specific license categories are simplified by removing the 'special' license designation and merging it into the general license category.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed the distinction between 'special' and 'general' nonresident hunting licenses, consolidating them into a single 'general' license category to simplify the system.

REQUIREMENT

Updated hunting license fee provisions to reference the consolidated license categories, maintaining the $100.75 minimum fee or commission-set amount for general licenses.

Modified restrictions on acquiring multiple licenses during a license year to reflect the new consolidated license categories, removing references to 'spring turkey' as a separate license type.

TECHNICAL

Changed the effective date of the act from September 1, 2025 to September 1, 2025 (no change in date, but formatting and certification language were updated for enrolled version).

Added certification language confirming the bill passed both legislative chambers with specific vote counts and was approved by the Governor.

Floor votes · House May 20, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
46
Key actions
14
Committee
10
May 30, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors