SB1930

Permitted uses: the law lists repair, maintenance, renovation and construction of Texas saltwater fish hatcheries and facilities supporting saltwater fisheries management and research; restoration, enhancement and management of saltwater fish habitats; shoreline-based projects allowing saltwater angler access; and license purchases under the four specified buyback programs. “Including” identifies permitted examples within coastal fisheries management, not a command to fund every listed project. Final law, Section 2.

Money and limits: the old rule said net receipts “shall” be spent for coastal fisheries “enforcement and management” and declared them appropriated for those purposes. SB1930 instead says receipts “may” be spent “only” for coastal fisheries management, deletes the separate enforcement reference and removes that appropriation language. The bill itself does not appropriate a dollar amount or require a particular project award. The unchanged subsection still sends net receipts to the department after deduction of collection fees. Receipts collected before September 1, 2025 remain under the former law. Final law, Sections 2–3; Earlier revenue provision.

Existing buybacks: the referenced programs concern finfish, oyster, shrimp and crab licenses. Their existing selection and license-retirement rules remain; the bill authorizes this revenue source rather than creating a guaranteed payment for every license holder. SB1930 does not amend the stamp-price provision or replace an otherwise required fishing license. Final law, Section 2(4); Finfish; Oyster; Shrimp; Crab; Stamp-price authority; Fishing-license requirement.

Passage: all five published versions have the same operative provisions, and the amendment index lists no amendments. Certified votes were 30–0 in the Senate and 142–0 in the House, with two House members present but not voting. The act specifies September 1, 2025 effectiveness. Introduced; Senate committee; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law, Section 4 and certification; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Anglers and coastal fisheries may benefit from eligible habitat, hatchery and access projects if funding is directed to them. Selected commercial license holders may receive buyback payments under the existing programs. Neither particular projects nor environmental improvements are guaranteed, and no actual expenditures or buybacks are verified here. Final law; Example buyback selection and retirement rules.

The March 28 fiscal note anticipates no significant state fiscal implication, assumes costs can be absorbed using existing resources, and anticipates no local-government fiscal implication. It does not estimate a new revenue total, a change in stamp prices or project-by-project benefits. Fiscal note.