S.B. No. 1236

	AN ACT
	relating to the use of certain weapons in or on the bed or bank of a
	navigable river or stream; providing a penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 284.001, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 1, Parks and Wildlife Code,
	redesignated as Section 1.014, Parks and Wildlife Code, and amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 1.014 [284.001].  USE OF CERTAIN WEAPONS IN OR ON BED OR
	BANK OF NAVIGABLE RIVER OR STREAM [DISCHARGE OF FIREARM]
	PROHIBITED.  (a)  In this section:
	(1)  "Archery equipment" means a longbow, recurved bow,
	compound bow, or crossbow.
	(2)  "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section
	62.014.
	(3)  "Navigable river or stream" has the meaning
	assigned by Section 90.001.
	(b)  [This section applies only to a navigable river or
	stream located wholly or partly in Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Hall,
	Kenedy, Llano, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, or Zavala County.
	[(c)]  Except as provided by Subsection (c) [(d)], a person
	may not discharge a firearm or shoot an arrow from any kind of bow
	if:
	(1)  the person is located in or on the bed or bank of a
	navigable river or stream at the time the firearm is discharged or
	the arrow is shot from the bow; or
	(2)  any portion of the ammunition discharged or arrow
	shot could physically contact the bed or bank of a navigable river
	or stream.
	(c) [(d)]  This section does not apply to:
	(1)  an individual acting in the scope of the
	individual's duties as a peace officer or department employee;
	(2)  the discharge of a shotgun loaded with ammunition
	that releases only shot when discharged; [or]
	(3)  an individual engaging in fishing using archery
	equipment, if the individual is in compliance with Subsection (e);
	(4)  the discharge of a firearm during the legal taking
	of an alligator; or
	(5)  the discharge of a firearm from the bank of a
	navigable river or stream to take a venomous snake or nonindigenous
	rodent by:
	(A)  an owner of the land adjacent to or through
	which the navigable river or stream runs; or
	(B)  an agent of an owner described by Paragraph
	(A) [(f)].
	(d) [(e)]  This section does not limit the ability of a
	license holder to carry a handgun under the authority of Subchapter
	H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
	(e) [(f)]  An individual engaging in fishing using archery
	equipment may not possess while fishing:
	(1)  an arrow equipped with fletching of any kind;
	(2)  an unbarbed arrow; or
	(3)  a bow that is not equipped with a reel and line.
	(f)  A person who violates this section commits an offense
	that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.
	(g)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
	section also constitutes an offense under Title 7, the actor may be
	prosecuted under this section or the other law, but not both.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Chapter 284, Parks and Wildlife
	Code, is repealed.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1236 passed the Senate on
	April 3, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 25, 2023, by the
	following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1236 passed the House, with
	amendments, on May 19, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 131,
	Nays 12, two present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor