89R SB 1285
by Sen. Eckhardt, different lead author · Did not pass · reworked
Introduced textLast action, May 25, 2025: Committee report distributed
Relating to the protection of bats.
Caption, 89R bill history
HB 351
bill making it unlawful to entomb a live bat
Filed
Verdict: No flags
No flagsInitial review
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
Caption
relating to the protection of bats.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Pest control loses its blanket exemption. Starts September 1, 2027.
This bill tightens the state ban on harming bats by making it unlawful to entomb or hunt a live bat, and it keeps the existing ban on buying and selling bats or bat parts. It ends the blanket exemption for licensed pest control companies, so they may only capture a bat they consider injured or diseased, the same as animal control officers, peace officers and health officials. It also lets people carry a bat to a permitted rehabilitation facility if the bat has had no known prior contact with humans, and it takes effect September 1, 2027.
Labels
Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 89R SB 1285 by Sen. Eckhardt (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
Receipt
The receipt
90R-HB351 · 2026-11-09
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the protection of bats.
WHAT IT DOES
Pest control loses its blanket exemption. Starts September 1, 2027.
This bill tightens the state ban on harming bats by making it unlawful to entomb or hunt a live bat, and it keeps the existing ban on buying and selling bats or bat parts. It ends the blanket exemption for licensed pest control companies, so they may only capture a bat they consider injured or diseased, the same as animal control officers, peace officers and health officials. It also lets people carry a bat to a permitted rehabilitation facility if the bat has had no known prior contact with humans, and it takes effect September 1, 2027.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
No flags
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · 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.
Texas Trial Lawyers Assocation PAC$22,500.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Assocation PAC
$22,500.00
- Cash
- $22,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $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.
Sources
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.
Michael Brickman$15,000.00
Johann Moonesinghe$10,000.00
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Assocation PAC
$22,500.00
- Cash
- $22,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $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.
Sources
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.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
FILED BEFORE
Filed 2 times: 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 H Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:33 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Subjects
Animals
Parks & Wildlife--General
Text
The text as introduced · 206 words
90R731 MP-F By: Flores H.B. No. 351 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the protection of bats. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 63.101(a) and (c), Parks and Wildlife Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a [ no ] person may not : (1) entomb or hunt a live bat; or (2) sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase, or possess after purchase a bat or any part of a bat, dead or alive. (c) This section does not apply to: (1) an animal control officer, a peace officer, a licensed pest control professional, or a health official who captures a bat that the officer , professional, or official considers injured or diseased; or (2) a person who transports a bat for the purpose of : (A) laboratory testing if the bat has exposed or potentially exposed humans or domestic animals to rabies; or (B) rehabilitation at a permitted rehabilitation facility if the bat has had no known prior exposure with humans [ (3) a person who is licensed to provide pest control services ]. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.