HB 4229

saltwater fishing stamp money drops enforcement

Companion SB 1930 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 the use of proceeds from the sale of saltwater fishing stamps issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Coastal fisheries only: hatcheries, habitat, angler access, license buybacks.

This bill changes what the state can spend saltwater fishing stamp money on, dropping enforcement and limiting the money to coastal fisheries management. It lists the allowed uses: fish hatcheries, research facilities, habitat restoration, shoreline angler access projects, and buying back commercial fishing licenses. It also strikes the language that automatically appropriated the money, so stamp receipts collected on or after September 1, 2025 must be spent under the new list.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4229 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16

ITEM

relating to the use of proceeds from the sale of saltwater fishing stamps issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

WHAT IT DOES

Coastal fisheries only: hatcheries, habitat, angler access, license buybacks.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 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

Mar 10, 2025Filed
Mar 31, 2025Read first time
Mar 31, 2025Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
Apr 8, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 8, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 8, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 8, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
Apr 15, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 22, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 22, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 23, 2025Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
Apr 25, 2025Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
Apr 25, 2025Transferred to Calendars Committee
Apr 25, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 25, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 29, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 29, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 1930
Apr 29, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Will Metcalf

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150K Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54K Dustin Burrows Campaign$45K

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 · Nov 7, 2024 to Oct 19, 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$149,922.40

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash: $70,000.00
Paid by others: $79,922.40
Total: $149,922.40

advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

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 · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 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: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54,402.88

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $54,402.88
Total: $54,402.88

television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$45,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $10,000.00
Total: $45,000.00

polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101030949, 101035543.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash: $70,000.00
Paid by others: $79,922.40
Total: $149,922.40

advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

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 · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 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: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $54,402.88
Total: $54,402.88

television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $10,000.00
Total: $45,000.00

polling $10,000.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101030949, 101035543.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses6

For: 5
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Coastal Conservation Association1 registration
Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Copano Oyster Company1 registration
Self; Texas Foundation for Conservation1 registration

On

TPWD1 registration

Sources

6 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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 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 10, 2025

04/29/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

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

House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1930 by Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy" (identical)

Subjects

Parks & Wildlife--Hunting & Fishing

Parks & Wildlife--Licenses

State Finances--Management & Control

Text

The text as introduced · 262 words

89R5233 BEE-F

By: Metcalf
H.B. No. 4229

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of proceeds from the sale of saltwater fishing

stamps issued by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 43.405, Parks and

Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.405. DISPOSITION AND USE OF STAMP [ COLLECTION ]

FEES.

SECTION 2. Section 43.405(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) The stamp sale net receipts may [ shall ] be spent only

for coastal fisheries [ enforcement and ] management , including:

(1) repair, maintenance, renovation, and construction

of:

(A) saltwater fish hatcheries in this state; and

(B) facilities supporting the management of and

research related to saltwater fisheries;

(2) restoration, enhancement, and management of

saltwater fish habitats;

(3) development of shoreline-based projects allowing

saltwater angler access; and

(4) purchase of licenses under a license buyback

program authorized by Section 47.081, 76.405, 77.119, or 78.111

[ and are hereby appropriated for such purposes ].

SECTION 3. Section 43.405(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, as

amended by this Act, applies only to receipts from the sale of

saltwater fishing stamps collected on or after the effective date

of this Act. Receipts from the sale of saltwater fishing stamps

collected before the effective date of this Act are governed by the

law in effect immediately before that date, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.