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A number of bills have been filed so far this session that could affect hunting and fishing licenses in Texas. Hunting and fishing are huge industries in the state, generating around $100 million in license sales.
One bill that will be of particular interest to fishermen who are senior citizens is House Bill 553 by Rep. Deshotel from Beaumont. This bill would waive the fee for a fishing license for a person who is 65 years old or older. The law currently leaves any discount to seniors to the discretion of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Texas Parks and Wildlife allows seniors who were born prior to September 1, 1930 to receive fishing licenses without fees. This bill would require that any person 65 years old or older be able to receive a fishing license at no charge. Keep in mind that this would only affect Texas fishing licenses and would not be the case for a Lake Texoma license.
Senate Bill 236 by Sen. Troy Fraser would allow a landowner to hunt feral hogs on the landowner's property without a hunting license. Feral hog numbers have increased dramatically over the past decade throughout much of Texas, with an estimated population of 1 to 2 million hogs. They are known to be quite destructive, often eating round hay bales intended for cattle or rooting up crops such as wheat and milo. Supporters of this bill claim that landowners should have the ability to protect their property from these nuisance animals without having to purchase a hunting license.
I encourage you to contact me with your questions or comments regarding these bills. You can reach me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.
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On another note, February is Black History Month. There have been several events at the State Capitol to honor the lives and achievements of African Americans. Citizens of Texoma can celebrate Black History Month this weekend at the 5th annual Texomaland Black Expo. The Expo will be held February 22, 2003 from 10 am through 5 pm, at Sid Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Austin College in Sherman. The purpose of the Texomaland Black Expo is to encourage and enhance networking opportunities for African Americans in Texoma, to recognize noble contributions of the African American community, to celebrate African American culture and to provide information and education on health and disease prevention.
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