Patterson’s bill waiving license fees for veterans 65 and up

The text as introduced · 415 words

89R13189 BEE-D

By: Patterson
H.B. No. 3329

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to fee waivers for certain hunting and fishing licenses

for honorably discharged veterans 65 years old or older.

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

SECTION 1. Section 42.012(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) The commission may set a lower fee or waive the fee or

license requirement for a resident who is under 17 years old, 65

years old or older, or participating in an event that is sponsored

or co-sponsored by the department with the approval of the

director. The commission shall waive the fee for :

(1) an honorably discharged veteran of the United

States armed services who is 65 years old or older;

(2) a qualified veteran with a disability ; and

(3) [ for ] a resident on active duty as a member of the

United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, the

Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard.

SECTION 2. Section 46.004(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) The commission shall waive the fee for :

(1) an honorably discharged veteran of the United

States armed services who is 65 years old or older;

(2) a qualified veteran with a disability as defined

by Section 42.012 ; and

(3) [ for ] a resident on active duty as a member of the

United States military forces, the Texas Army National Guard, the

Texas Air National Guard, or the Texas State Guard.

SECTION 3. Section 50.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) The commission shall waive the fee for an annual

combination hunting and fishing license for an honorably discharged

veteran of the United States armed services who is 65 years old or

older.

SECTION 4. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies

only to a fee charged for a hunting or fishing license issued on or

after the effective date of this Act.

(b) A hunting or fishing license issued before the effective

date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the license was

issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

The Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to issue a refund

for any license issued before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.