HB 134 — The issuance of state parklands passports

90R1207 BEE-D By: Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 134 relating to the issuance of state parklands passports and the waiver of state park fees for certain honorably retired peace officers and to the waiver of the fee for a super combination hunting license and all-water fishing pass for certain veterans, military service members, and honorably retired peace officers.

SECTION 1. Sections 13.018(a), (c), (e), and (f), Parks and Wildlife Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) The following individuals [ people ] may apply to the department for a state parklands passport: (1) a resident of this state who is 65 years old or over who has resided in the state for six consecutive months preceding the date of application for a parklands passport or any other individual in a category that the commission by rule designates as a resident of this state who is 65 years old or over; (2) an honorably retired peace officer, as defined by Section 614.121, Government Code, who is a resident of this state and has resided in the state for six consecutive months preceding the date of application for a parklands passport; (3) an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed services; (4) [ (3) ] a member of the United States armed services on active duty; (5) [ (4) ] a surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of an individual [ a person ] who died while serving in the United States armed forces; and (6) [ (5) ] an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual. (c) The holder of a state parklands passport issued on or before August 31, 1995, an individual [ a person ] whose birth date is before September 1, 1930, or an individual [ a person ] described by Subsection (a)(2), (3), [ or ] (4) , or (5) is entitled to enter any state park without payment of an entrance or admission fee. When a fee is charged by the department for entrance of a vehicle into a state park, the vehicle of the holder of a state parklands passport is exempt from the fee when the holder is present. (e) A state parklands passport issued to an individual [ a person ] described by Subsection (a)(4) [ (a)(3) ] is valid for one year from the date of issuance and may be renewed in the manner prescribed by commission rule. (f) The commission by rule shall establish eligibility requirements and privileges available to the holder of a state parklands passport described by Subsection (a)(6) [ (a)(5) ].

SECTION 2. Section 50.0011, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 50.0011. DEFINITION. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, in [ In ] this chapter, "resident" means: (1) an individual who has resided continuously in this state for more than six months immediately before applying for a license issued under this chapter; (2) a member of the United States armed forces on active duty; (3) a dependent of a member of the United States armed forces on active duty; or (4) a member of any other category of individuals that the commission by regulation designates as residents.

SECTION 3. Chapter 50, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended by adding Section 50.006 to read as follows: Sec. 50.006. FEE WAIVERS FOR SUPER COMBINATION HUNTING LICENSE AND ALL-WATER FISHING PASS. (a) In this section: (1) "Qualified veteran with a disability" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.012. (2) "Resident" means an individual who has resided continuously in this state for more than six months immediately before applying for a super combination hunting license and all-water fishing pass under this section. (b) The commission shall waive the fee for the issuance of a super combination hunting license and all-water fishing pass to: (1) a qualified veteran with a disability, regardless of whether the individual is a resident; (2) a resident who is an active duty member of the United States armed services or the Texas military forces, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code; and (3) a resident who is an honorably retired peace officer, as defined by Section 614.121, Government Code. (c) A super combination hunting license and all-water fishing pass consists of: (1) a resident hunting license; (2) a migratory game bird stamp; (3) an upland game bird stamp; (4) an archery stamp; (5) a resident fishing license; (6) a freshwater fish stamp; (7) a saltwater sportfishing stamp; (8) a spotted seatrout tag; and (9) a red drum tag.

SECTION 4. (a) Section 50.006, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a fee charged for a license, stamp, or tag described by Subsection (c) of that section that is issued on or after the effective date of this Act. (b) The Parks and Wildlife Department is not required to issue a refund for a license, stamp, or tag described by Section 50.006(c), Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, that is issued before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.