Monitoring the SessionHB 4819
Died in committee
THE TEXT
…“agreement to have the animal sterilized and pays a refundable $75”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates a new mandatory $75 fee on adopters of unsterilized pets. The caption honestly says it is authorizing a fee, and the unrefunded money goes to an existing account rather than a new fund.
New fee, fund, board or appointeesReviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Adopt an unsterilized dog or cat, pay $75. Bring the vet letter, get it back.
The bill requires shelters and other releasing agencies to charge a refundable $75 fee to anyone who adopts a dog or cat that has not yet been spayed or neutered. The adopter gets the money back by bringing in the vet letter confirming the animal was sterilized on time, and the agency keeps records and remits any fees that were not refunded. Unrefunded fees go to the comptroller and into an existing account that the Department of State Health Services may use only for grants to organizations that provide sterilization services.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 309 by Rep. Goodwin (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 309 by Rep. Goodwin (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.FEE INCLUDED. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee.”PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Public Health committee on May 5, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
89R-HB4819 · 2025-03-13
relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee.
Adopt an unsterilized dog or cat, pay $75. Bring the vet letter, get it back.
The bill requires shelters and other releasing agencies to charge a refundable $75 fee to anyone who adopts a dog or cat that has not yet been spayed or neutered. The adopter gets the money back by bringing in the vet letter confirming the animal was sterilized on time, and the agency keeps records and remits any fees that were not refunded. Unrefunded fees go to the comptroller and into an existing account that the Department of State Health Services may use only for grants to organizations that provide sterilization services.
[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 45%
THE TEXT
…“agreement to have the animal sterilized and pays a refundable $75”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates a new mandatory $75 fee on adopters of unsterilized pets. The caption honestly says it is authorizing a fee, and the unrefunded money goes to an existing account rather than a new fund.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · May 4, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
THE TEXT
…“eligible organizations for the purpose of providing sterilization”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Fee money that adopters forfeit is routed through state grants to outside organizations that perform sterilization services.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Aug 5, 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.
$22,500.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 20, 2024 to Jun 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · Sep 20, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 100985004, 101007867, 101059825.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$22,500.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 20, 2024 to Jun 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · Sep 20, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 100985004, 101007867, 101059825.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · May 4, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Goodwin, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Feb 23, 2023: Referred to Public Health
Relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025
05/05/2025 H Left pending in committee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:12 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Public Health · Final status: Died in committee
Animals
Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State
STATE HEALTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
The text as introduced · 275 words
89R14323 MCF-F By: Flores H.B. No. 4819 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a refundable adoption fee for the sterilization of dogs and cats; authorizing a fee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 828.002, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 828.002. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION. (a) Except as provided by Section 828.013, a releasing agency may not release a dog or cat for adoption unless : (1) the animal has been sterilized ; or (2) the release is made to a new owner who signs an agreement to have the animal sterilized and pays a refundable $75 fee . (b) The releasing agency shall: (1) collect the fee required under Subsection (a)(2) from each new owner who adopts a dog or cat that is not sterilized; and (2) refund the amount of the collected fee to an owner who provides to the agency the letter required by Section 828.005 confirming the adopted dog or cat has been sterilized within the time required by that section. (c) Each releasing agency shall remit to the comptroller all fees not refunded under Subsection (b)(2) in accordance with the times and methods prescribed by the comptroller. The comptroller shall deposit the fees to the credit of the account created by the comptroller in the manner provided by Section 504.6012(b), Transportation Code. Money deposited to that account may be used only by the Department of State Health Services to award grants to eligible organizations for the purpose of providing sterilization services in accordance with Section 828.014. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.