HB 5398

aoudad sheep join the helicopter list

Companion SB 1245 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 taking of certain aoudad sheep by using a helicopter.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Feral hogs, coyotes and now aoudad, shot from a helicopter under permit.

The bill adds aoudad sheep to the list of animals, alongside depredating feral hogs and coyotes, that a qualified landowner or their agent can contract to help shoot from a helicopter under a state permit. It touches landowners, their agents, helicopter hunting operators and the Parks and Wildlife Commission, which must update its rules. Starting September 1, 2025, aoudad sheep can be taken by helicopter under the same permit system already used for hogs and coyotes.

Labels

Labels: 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-HB5398 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16

Rep. Cody VasutRHouse 25

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the taking of certain aoudad sheep by using a helicopter.

WHAT IT DOES

Feral hogs, coyotes and now aoudad, shot from a helicopter under permit.

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 11, 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 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
Apr 15, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 15, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 16, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 16, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 23, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 23, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 25, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 28, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 1, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 1, 2025Read 2nd time
May 1, 2025Postponed 5/5/25 10:00 AM
May 5, 2025Laid out as postponed business
May 5, 2025Postponed 5/6/25 10:00 AM
May 6, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 1245
May 6, 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

Eddie Morales

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$101K Legacy 44$100K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$57K

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 27, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$101,077.16

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$101,077.16

Cash: $80,000.00
Paid by others: $21,077.16
Total: $101,077.16

mailers $21,077.16

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100983216, 101059340, 101067651, 101071574.

Legacy 44$100,000.00

Legacy 44

$100,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $70,000.00
Total: $100,000.00

digital $70,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100983216, 101067651.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$56,517.22

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$56,517.22

Cash: $37,500.00
Paid by others: $19,017.22
Total: $56,517.22

mail $18,992.22grassroots $25.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 2, 2024 to Sep 2, 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: 100983216, 101031005, 101067651.

Money

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

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$101,077.16

Cash: $80,000.00
Paid by others: $21,077.16
Total: $101,077.16

mailers $21,077.16

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100983216, 101059340, 101067651, 101071574.

Legacy 44

$100,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $70,000.00
Total: $100,000.00

digital $70,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100983216, 101067651.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$56,517.22

Cash: $37,500.00
Paid by others: $19,017.22
Total: $56,517.22

mail $18,992.22grassroots $25.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 2, 2024 to Sep 2, 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: 100983216, 101031005, 101067651.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses3

For: 3
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Self; Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society1 registration
Self; Texas Wildlife Association1 registration
Texas Farm Bureau1 registration

Sources

3 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 11, 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 14, 2025

05/06/2025 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 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1245 by Blanco (identical)

Subjects

Animals

Parks & Wildlife--Hunting & Fishing

PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSION

Text

The text as introduced · 153 words

89R5765 BEE-F

By: Morales of Maverick
H.B. No. 5398

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the taking of certain aoudad sheep by using a

helicopter.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43.1075, Parks and Wildlife Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 43.1075. USING HELICOPTERS TO TAKE CERTAIN ANIMALS. A

qualified landowner or landowner's agent, as determined by

commission rule, may contract to participate as a hunter or

observer in using a helicopter to take depredating feral hogs , [ or ]

coyotes , or aoudad sheep under the authority of a permit issued

under this subchapter.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt or amend

rules as necessary to implement the change in law made by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.