Monitoring the Session

HB 135

game and exotic animals go sales tax free

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Angie Chen ButtonRHouse 112

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to an exemption from sales and use taxes for game animals and exotic animals.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Added to the farm and ranch exemption list.

The bill adds game animals and exotic animals to the list of farm and ranch items that are exempt from Texas sales and use taxes. It touches buyers and sellers of game animals, as defined in the Parks and Wildlife Code, and of exotic animals, as defined in the Tax Code, such as ranches that stock or trade wildlife. Once it takes effect, no state sales or use tax is charged on these animal sales, and taxes already owed before that date are still owed.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on May 13, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB135 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors, 6 coauthors

ITEM

relating to an exemption from sales and use taxes for game animals and exotic animals.

WHAT IT DOES

Added to the farm and ranch exemption list.

The bill adds game animals and exotic animals to the list of farm and ranch items that are exempt from Texas sales and use taxes. It touches buyers and sellers of game animals, as defined in the Parks and Wildlife Code, and of exotic animals, as defined in the Tax Code, such as ranches that stock or trade wildlife. Once it takes effect, no state sales or use tax is charged on these animal sales, and taxes already owed before that date are still owed.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 19, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Ways & Means
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#57
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#64
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Finance
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Testimony taken in committee
  32. Vote taken in committee
  33. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  34. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  35. Committee report printed and distributed
  36. Co-sponsor authorized
  37. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  38. Laid before the Senate
  39. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  40. Vote recorded in Journal
  41. Three day rule suspended
  42. Record vote
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote
  46. Senate passage reported
  47. Reported enrolled
  48. Signed in the House
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Sent to the Governor
  51. Signed by the Governor
  52. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 118 yea · 27 nay

Senate · 27 yea · 4 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 1, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$762,071.41

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$762,071.41

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$707,071.41
Total
$762,071.41
advertising $195,740.00digital $125,000.00tv $125,000.00grassroots $121,840.00mail $61,081.06Other filed descriptions $45,000.00polling $33,410.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100992420, 101010417, 101032581, 101042428, 101058017, 101069955.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$632,800.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$632,800.00

Cash
$102,000.00
Paid by others
$530,800.00
Total
$632,800.00
canvassing $300,000.00digital $225,000.00polling $5,800.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

Texas Sands PAC$264,500.00

Texas Sands PAC

$264,500.00

Cash
$264,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$264,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 23, 2025 to Oct 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101010417, 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$762,071.41

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$707,071.41
Total
$762,071.41
advertising $195,740.00digital $125,000.00tv $125,000.00grassroots $121,840.00mail $61,081.06Other filed descriptions $45,000.00polling $33,410.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100992420, 101010417, 101032581, 101042428, 101058017, 101069955.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$632,800.00

Cash
$102,000.00
Paid by others
$530,800.00
Total
$632,800.00
canvassing $300,000.00digital $225,000.00polling $5,800.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$264,500.00

Cash
$264,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$264,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 23, 2025 to Oct 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101010417, 101035728, 101058017, 101069955.

Votes5

Senate May 1, 2025

Final passage

Yea
27
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 135 (Campbell) Relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes for game animals and exotic animals. (viva voce vote) (27-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hughes (27-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hughes

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 1, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
27
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 135 (Campbell) Relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes for game animals and exotic animals. (viva voce vote) (27-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hughes (27-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hughes

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 1, 2025

Passage to third reading

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 135 (Campbell) Relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes for game animals and exotic animals. (viva voce vote) (27-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hughes (27-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hughes

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 2, 2025

Yea
118
Nay
27
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 64

HB 135 was passed by (Record 64): 118 Yeas, 27 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 118 (published)
  • Nay: 27 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 1, 2025

Yea
126
Nay
21
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 57

CSHB 135 was passed to engrossment by (Record 57): 126 Yeas, 21 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 126 (published)
  • Nay: 21 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses10
For
6
Against
2
On
2
Names

For

  • Exotic Wildlife Association2 registrations
  • Texas Deer Association2 registrations
  • Texas Farm Bureau2 registrations

Against

  • Self2 registrations

On

  • Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · April 19, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

05/13/2025 E Effective immediately

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Ways & Means · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Finance · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 4 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 2410 by Campbell (identical)

Subjects

Animals

Taxation--Sales

Text

The text as introduced · 757 words

89R18143 TYPED

By: Button
H.B. No. 135

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an exemption from sales and use taxes for game animals

and exotic animals.

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

SECTION 1. Section 151.316(a), Tax Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) Subject to Section 151.1551, the following items are

exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter:

(1) horses, mules, and work animals;

(2) animal life the products of which ordinarily

constitute food for human consumption;

(3) feed for farm and ranch animals;

(4) feed for animals that are held for sale in the

regular course of business;

(5) seeds and annual plants the products of which:

(A) ordinarily constitute food for human

consumption;

(B) are to be sold in the regular course of

business; or

(C) are used to produce feed for animals exempted

by this section;

(6) fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides,

herbicides, defoliants, and desiccants exclusively used or

employed on a farm or ranch in the production of:

(A) food for human consumption;

(B) feed for animal life; or

(C) other agricultural products to be sold in the

regular course of business;

(7) machinery and equipment exclusively used or

employed on a farm or ranch in the building or maintaining of roads

or water facilities or in the production of:

(A) food for human consumption;

(B) grass;

(C) feed for animal life; or

(D) other agricultural products to be sold in the

regular course of business;

(8) machinery and equipment exclusively used in, and

pollution control equipment required as a result of, the

processing, packing, or marketing of agricultural products by an

original producer at a location operated by the original producer

for processing, packing, or marketing the producer's own products

if:

(A) 50 percent or more of the products processed,

packed, or marketed at or from the location are produced by the

original producer and not purchased or acquired from others; and

(B) the producer does not process, pack, or

market for consideration any agricultural products that belong to

other persons in an amount greater than five percent of the total

agricultural products processed, packed, or marketed by the

producer;

(9) ice exclusively used by commercial fishing boats

in the storing of aquatic species including but not limited to

shrimp, other crustaceans, finfish, mollusks, and other similar

creatures;

(10) tangible personal property, including a tire,

sold or used to be installed as a component part of a motor vehicle,

machinery, or other equipment exclusively used or employed on a

farm or ranch in the building or maintaining of roads or water

facilities or in the production of:

(A) food for human consumption;

(B) grass;

(C) feed for animal life; or

(D) other agricultural products to be sold in the

regular course of business;

(11) machinery and equipment exclusively used in an

agricultural aircraft operation, as defined by 14 C.F.R. Section

137.3;

(12) tangible personal property incorporated into a

structure that is used for the disposal of poultry carcasses in

accordance with Section 26.303, Water Code;

(13) tangible personal property incorporated into or

attached to a structure that is located on a commercial dairy farm,

is used or employed exclusively for the production of milk, and is:

(A) a free-stall dairy barn; or

(B) a dairy structure used solely for maternity

purposes; [ and ]

(14) telecommunications services exclusively provided

or used for the navigation of machinery and equipment exclusively

used or employed on a farm or ranch in the building or maintaining

of roads or water facilities or in the production of:

(A) food for human consumption;

(B) grass;

(C) feed for animal life; or

(D) other agricultural products to be sold in the

regular course of business ;

(15) game animals, as defined by Section 63.001, Parks

and Wildlife Code; and

(16) exotic animals, as defined by Section 23.51 .

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not

affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this

Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been

enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the

collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of

the liability for those taxes.

SECTION 3. 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.