The bill was passed in the House of Representatives by a 138-0 vote and the Senate by a vote of 29-2. The legislation was sponsored by Representative Poncho Nevarez and Senator Carlos Uresti. The bill will take effect immediately, upon the governor’s signature, since it received a favorable vote of two-thirds present in each house.
The legislation would allow only Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal members to hunt anterless deer throughout the year for religious purposes with certain restrictions. The Tribe would still be subject to all the other state laws regulating hunting activity, including licensure requirements and trespassing laws.