Monitoring the SessionHB 676
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, Federal Aviation Administration rules apply.
This 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 drone follows Federal Aviation Administration rules. It touches hunters, landowners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission. On the ground, drone-assisted recovery becomes legal under state wildlife law starting September 1, 2025, and the commission cannot require a state permit for it.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 3489 (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 (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.PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism committee on Mar 20, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
89R-HB676 · 2024-11-12
relating to the use of an unmanned aircraft to locate and retrieve wounded or killed wildlife.
Private land, Federal Aviation Administration rules apply.
This 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 drone follows Federal Aviation Administration rules. It touches hunters, landowners and the Parks and Wildlife Commission. On the ground, drone-assisted recovery becomes legal under state wildlife law starting September 1, 2025, and the commission cannot require a state permit for it.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · March 17, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
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 · Aug 6, 2024 to Feb 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.
$36,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Sep 20, 2024 to Feb 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: 100981675, 101026167, 101035798, 101038806.
$34,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Feb 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: 100981675, 101038806.
$17,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 18, 2024 to Feb 20, 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: 100981675, 101038806.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$36,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Sep 20, 2024 to Feb 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: 100981675, 101026167, 101035798, 101038806.
$34,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Feb 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: 100981675, 101038806.
$17,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 18, 2024 to Feb 20, 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: 100981675, 101038806.
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 · March 17, 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. Gervin-Hawkins, same 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
03/20/2025 H Left pending in committee
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 646 by Vasut (duplicate)
Aeronautics
Animals
Parks & Wildlife--General
Parks & Wildlife--Hunting & Fishing
PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSION
The text as introduced · 184 words
89R3717 MP-D By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 676 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.
