Monitoring the SessionHB 646
Died in committee
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
relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve wounded or killed wildlife.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Private land only, federal aviation rules apply.
The bill lets a person use a drone to help find and recover wildlife that has been wounded or killed on private land, as long as federal law allows it and the operator follows federal aviation rules. It touches hunters, landowners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The commission can write rules to carry out the law, but it cannot require a state permit or authorization to fly a drone for this purpose.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 3489 by Rep. Gervin-Hawkins (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 3489 by Rep. Gervin-Hawkins (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.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB646 · 2024-11-12
relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve wounded or killed wildlife.
Private land only, federal aviation rules apply.
The bill lets a person use a drone to help find and recover wildlife that has been wounded or killed on private land, as long as federal law allows it and the operator follows federal aviation rules. It touches hunters, landowners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The commission can write rules to carry out the law, but it cannot require a state permit or authorization to fly a drone for this purpose.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
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 · Oct 29, 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.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.
$12,750.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.
$11,000.00
Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.
$12,750.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.
$11,000.00
Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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. Gervin-Hawkins, different lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 16, 2023: Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
Relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve wounded or killed wildlife.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/04/2025 H Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism: Mar 4 2025 3:37PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Final status: Died in committee
HB 676 by Gervin-Hawkins (duplicate)
Aeronautics
Animals
Parks & Wildlife--General
Parks & Wildlife--Hunting & Fishing
PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSION
The text as introduced · 184 words
89R3717 MP-D By: Vasut H.B. No. 646 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve wounded or killed wildlife. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by adding Section 62.0115 to read as follows: Sec. 62.0115. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT FOR LOCATING AND RETRIEVING WOUNDED OR KILLED WILDLIFE. (a) To the extent permitted by federal law, a person may use an unmanned aircraft to assist in locating and retrieving wounded or killed wildlife on private land. The unmanned aircraft must be operated in compliance with: (1) each applicable Federal Aviation Administration rule, restriction, or exemption; and (2) all required Federal Aviation Administration authorizations. (b) The commission may adopt rules as necessary to administer this section, except that the commission may not adopt a rule that requires a person to hold an authorization issued by the department or commission to use an unmanned aircraft as described by Subsection (a). SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.