85th Legislative Special Session
BILL: SB 98 - 7/21/17 - Taylor District 8
Relating to the regulation of raising or keeping six or fewer chickens by a political subdivision.
STATUS: FILED
THLN Priority Legislation
BILL: Humane Tethering - HB 1156 / SB 1090, Rep. Davis, District 134 & Senator Lucio, District 27
Relating to the care and unlawful restraint of a dog.
BILL: Violent Animal Cruelty - HB 1357 / SB 762, Rep. Moody, District 78 & Senator Menendez, District 26
Relating to the penalties associated with convictions of felony companion animal cruelty.
Animal Bills We're Following
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BILL INFORMATION MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME DUE TO AMENDMENTS AND OTHER CHANGES TO THE BILL]
HOUSE BILLS
BILL: HB 162 - 11/14/16 - Lucio III District 38
Relating to conditions of community supervision for defendants convicted of certain criminal offenses involving animals.
(Online Responsible Pet Owner Bill)
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: HB 233 - 11/14/16 - E. Rodriguez District 51
Relating to the exception of certain information related to the humane disposition by a municipality or county of an animal from required disclosure under the public information law.
(Exemption of Adoption Records)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 401 - 11/17/16 - Villalba District 114
Relating to civil or criminal liability for leaving certain animals unattended in or removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle.
(Dogs in Hot Cars)
COMPANION TO SB 69 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 478 - 12/1/16 - Israel District 50
Relating to civil liability for removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle.
(Dogs in Hot Cars)
Please note: This bill started out as a bill dealing with the removal of both children and animals from hot cars. It was amended to remove animals from the bill. With that removal there was no animal welfare progress made as intended by the author of this bill.
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: HB 748 - 12/27/16 - Farrar District 148
Relating to certain costs associated with certain court proceedings for cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.
(Seizure Bill)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 749 - 12/17/16 - Farrar District 148
Relating to a central database containing information about certain persons who have been convicted of or received a grant of deferred adjudication community supervision for certain offenses involving animal cruelty; creating a criminal offense.
(Animal Cruelty Database)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 904 - 1/9/17 - Nevarez District 74
Relating to the classification of exotic and nongame animals.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 996 - 1/12/17 - Capriglione District 98
Relating to the regulation of business entities that provide assistance animals; providing a civil penalty.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1087 - 1/17/17 - Alvarado District 145
Relating to the creation of the offense of bestiality.
STATUS: FAILED
Please note that the Companion bill did pass.
BILL: HB 1100 - 1/18/17 - Canales District 40
Relating to the issuance of a permit to host a charity hunt outside the regular hunting season; authorizing the imposition of a fee.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1107 - 1/18/17 - Reynolds District 27
Relating to county regulation of roadside vendors and solicitors.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1156 - 1/19/17 - Davis District 134
Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating an offense.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1293 - 1/25/17 - King District 80
Relating to bees, the chief apiary inspector, and the regulation of beekeepers; authorizing fees; requiring an occupational registration; providing a criminal penalty.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1357 - 1/30/17 - Moody District 78
Relating to the prosecution of offenses involving cruelty to animals; increasing a criminal penalty.
COMPANION TO SB 762 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
Please note that the companion bill did pass.
BILL: HB 1375 - 1/31/17 - Davis District 134
Relating to treatment and care provided by licensed medical professionals to animals in certain facilities.
COMPANION TO SB 721 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
Please note that the companion bill did pass.
BILL: HB 1916 - Elkins District 135
Relating to the intake and disposition records of animal shelters and releasing agencies.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1961 - 2/15/17 - Miller District 26
Relating to the care and unlawful restraint of a dog.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 1984 - 2/16/17 - Burkett District 113
Relating to the quarantine of rabid animals.
STATUS: Amended onto SB319 and was signed by the Governor on 6/9/17.
BILL: HB 2274 - 2/22/17 - Guillen District 31
Relating to registration and regulation of dangerous wild animals; providing penalties, creating a criminal offense, and authorizing a fee.
COMPANION TO SB 1879 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2390 - 2/24/17 - Rodriguez District 51
Relating to the medical treatment and care of animals by certain persons in animal shelters and releasing agencies.
COMPANION TO SB 1084 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2484 - 2/27/17 - Nevarez District 74
Relating to the licensing and regulation of animal export-import processing facilities; providing penalties; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.
COMPANION TO SB 1675 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2490 - 2/27/17 - Minjarez District 124
Relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for research.
COMPANION TO SB 1930 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2600 - 3/1/17 - Farrar District 148
Relating to the establishment of the Bee Pollinator Goals Task Force to develop and report on statewide pollinator goals.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2805 - 3/3/17 - Price District 87
Relating to the payment of costs for a cruelly treated animal abandoned by a tenant.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2967 - 3/6/17 - Raymond District 42
Relating to the continuation and functions of the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; authorizing a reduction in fees; providing penalties.
STATUS: FAILED
Please note that the companion bill did pass.
BILL: HB 2992 - 3/6/17 - Neave District 107
Relating to assistance animals used by persons with disabilities and to the prosecution of the offense of misrepresenting an animal as an assistance animal.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3079 - 3/7/17 - Uresti District 118
Relating to imposing a tax on animal-tested cosmetics; providing a penalty.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3208 - 3/7/17 - Gonzales District 52
Relating to powers and duties of certain prescribers and dispensers of controlled substances and the regulatory agencies that issue a license, certification, or registration to the prescriber or dispenser, following the recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3229 - 3/7/17 - Phelan District 21
Relating to the use of an assistance animal that provides assistance to a person with a disability; providing a criminal penalty.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3392 - 3/8/17 - Keough District 15
Relating to the taking of certain feral hogs using a hot air balloon.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3431 - 3/8/17 - Gooden District 4
Relating to training for peace officers on enforcing the Private Security Act.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3451 - 3/9/17 - Stucky District 64
Relating to the study and approval of lethal pesticides for feral hog control.
COMPANION TO SB 1454 (below)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3517 - 3/9/17 - Gervin-Hawkins District 120
Relating to a petition for a municipal animal control authority to manage dangerous animals in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3535 - 3/9/17 - Keough District 15
Relating to the taking of certain feral hogs and coyotes using a hot air balloon.
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: HB 3693 - 3/9/17 - Wilson District 20
Relating to certain defenses to prosecution in a criminal case that are based on a fear of injury by an animal.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3998 - 3/10/17 - Anderson District 56
Relating to the practice of veterinary medicine and the medical treatment and care of animals in animal shelters and releasing agencies; expanding the applicability of an occupational license.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 4008 - 3/10/17 - Zedler District 96
Relating to the rights of health care consumers.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 4057 - 3/10/17 - Cyrier District 17
Relating to the practice of veterinary medicine and the medical treatment and care of animals in animal shelters and releasing agencies; expanding the applicability of an occupational license.
STATUS: FAILED
SENATE BILLS
BILL: SB 69 - 11/11/16 - Zaffirini District 21
Relating to civil or criminal liability for leaving certain animals unattended in or removing certain individuals or animals from a motor vehicle.
(Dogs in Hot Cars)
COMPANION TO HB 401 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 188 - 11/14/16 - Uresti District 19
Relating to civil or criminal liability for transporting in, confining in, or removing from a motor vehicle certain animals.
(Dogs in Hot Cars)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 210 - 11/14/16 - Kolkhorst District 18
Relating to the required repeal or amendment of two state agency rules before adoption of a new state agency rule that increases costs to regulated persons.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 319 - 3/9/17 - Watson District 14
Relating to the continuation and functions of the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners; authorizing a reduction in fees; providing penalties.
COMPANION TO HB 2967 (above)
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: SB 721 - 2/2/17 - Perry District 28
Relating to treatment and care provided by licensed medical professionals to animals in certain facilities.
COMPANION TO HB 1375 (above)
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: SB 762 - 2/6/17 - Menendez District 26
Relating to the prosecution of offenses involving cruelty to animals and to the inclusion of related conduct in the definition of family violence; increasing a criminal penalty.
COMPANION TO HB 1357 (above)
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: SB 772 - 2/7/17 - Uresti District 19
Relating to the authority of a code enforcement officer when performing official duties to possess or carry an instrument used for deterring the bite of an animal.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1057 - 2/23/17 - West District 23
Relating to inspection of certain vacant properties for abandoned animals; providing a civil penalty.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1084 - 2/24/17 - Watson District 14
Relating to the medical treatment and care of animals by certain persons in animal shelters and releasing agencies.
COMPANION TO HB 2390 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1090 - 2/24/17 - 2/24/17 - Lucio District 27
Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating an offense.
COMPANION TO HB 1156 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1204 - 3/2/17 - Perry District 28
Relating to the punishment for the offense of criminal mischief involving the death of a head of cattle or horses.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1232 - 3/3/17 - Huffman District 17
Relating to the creation of the offense of bestiality.
COMPANION TO HB 1087 (above)
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: SB 1425 - 3/8/17 - Hancock District 9
Relating to the regulation of business entities that provide assistance animals; providing a civil penalty.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1454 - 3/8/17 - Watson District 14
Relating to the study and approval of lethal pesticides for feral hog control.
COMPANION TO HB 3451 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1675 - 3/9/17 - Lucio District 27
Relating to the licensing and regulation of animal export-import processing facilities; providing penalties; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.
COMPANION TO HB 2484 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1792 - 3/9/17 - Menendez District 26
Relating to conditions of community supervision for defendants convicted of certain criminal offenses involving animals.
COMPANION TO HB 162 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
Please note that the companion bill did pass.
BILL: SB 1879 - 3/9/17 - Menendez District 26
Relating to registration and regulation of dangerous wild animals; providing penalties, creating a criminal offense, and authorizing a fee.
COMPANION TO HB 2274 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1930 - 3/9/17 - West District 23
Relating to the adoption of cats and dogs previously used for research at public institutions of higher education.
COMPANION TO HB 2490 (above)
STATUS: FAILED
RACING/GAMBLING BILLS
BILL: HB 2644 - 3/1/17 - Sanford District 70
Relating to the prohibiting of the use of money in the Texas economic development fund or the Texas Enterprise Fund to finance a facility or establishment at which gambling is to be conducted.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 2741 - 3/2/17 - Deshotel District 22
Relating to the operation of a casino gaming in this state by licensed persons in certain areas of this state to provide additional money for residual windstorm insurance coverage in the coastal areas; requiring occupational licenses or certifications; authorizing fees; imposing a tax; creating criminal offenses and providing other penalties.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3925 - 3/10/17 - Kuempel District 44
Relating to the regulation of wagering through telephone, the Internet, or other approved electronic means on horse races and greyhound races under the pari-mutuel system of wagering; requiring a license to operate account wagering; requiring a fee.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 3926 - Kuempel District 44
Relating to the regulation of horse racing and greyhound racing and pari-mutuel wagering in connection with that racing.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HB 4136 - 3/10/17 - Gutierrez District 119
Relating to the operation of casino games at 12 casinos in this state by licensed persons in counties that have approved casino gaming; requiring occupational licenses or certifications; creating criminal offenses and providing other penalties; authorizing fees.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HJR 55 - 1/10/17 - Alvarado District 145
Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to establish a state gaming commission and to authorize and provide for the regulation of gaming conducted at certain locations in this state, authorizing federally recognized Indian tribes to conduct gaming on certain Indian lands, and requiring the governor to call the legislature into special session to consider gaming legislation.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: HJR 59 - 1/19/17 - Nevarez District 74
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas to conduct gaming by executing a gaming agreement with this state; providing for licensing of persons under the agreement; limiting certain taxes and fees.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1969 - 3/10/17 - Kolkhorst District 18
Relating to the non-substantive revision of the Texas Racing Act, including conforming amendments.
STATUS: PASSED
BILL: SB 1971 - 3/10/17 - Kolkhorst District 18
Relating to the set aside, collection, and transfer of certain money for the Texas-bred program.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SB 1973 - 3/10/17 - Kolkhorst District 18
Relating to the set aside, collection, and transfer of certain money for the Texas Racing Commission.
STATUS: FAILED
BILL: SJR 39 - 2/14/17 - Uresti District 39
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas to conduct gaming by executing a gaming agreement with this state; providing for licensing of persons under the agreement; limiting certain taxes and fees.
STATUS: FAILED
Dates of Interest
85th Legislature
Sunday, June 18, 2017 (20th day following final adjournment of 85th Regular Session)
Last day the governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular session.
Monday, August 28, 2017 (91st day following final adjournment of 85th Regular Session)
Date that bills without specific effective dates, other than bills with immediate effect, become law.