07/03/2023
Update 3/24: A hearing has been scheduled for March 30 at 8:00 AM at 1100 Congress Avenue, Room E2.012, Austin, TX. The relevant links are below:
1. Submit comments at https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c430 (use the sample message below).
2. Send letters to the Committee and your state legislators at https://ujoin.co/campaigns/2226/actions/public?action_id=2396.
3. Meeting agenda:https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/schedules/pdf/C4302023033008001.PDF
4. Instructions for testifying (must be done at the Capitol and can be done before the meeting): https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/HWRSPublic/About.aspx
5. Watch the hearing: https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/
Update 3/16: The bill was assigned to the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee today. Find Committee members at https://capitol.texas.gov/Committees/MembershipCmte.aspx?LegSess=88R&CmteCode=C430.
Read below or at https://usark.org/23tx/. NOTE: This is not a new ban.
Texas House Bill 3482 amends current law and will have implications for some reptile keepers. HB3482 also affects mammal species classified as “dangerous wild animals” in Texas. It was introduced by Representative Chris Turner and has not been assigned to Committee (as of March 6).
Texas has a permit system for certain “nonindigenous snakes” regulated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Information on this regulation can be found at https://tpwd.texas.gov/faq/business/permits/nonindigenous_snakes/index.phtml.
Read the bill at https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB03482I.htm. The underlined text will be added to the current law.
What HB3482 does:
1. A permit cannot be issued if the species is banned in the city or county.
2. Permits cannot be issued for regulated venomous snakes unless antivenom is available at a hospital within 50 miles of the location the snake is kept.
3. Cities and counties will be notified when permits are issued.
4. NOTE: This bill does not ban or regulate any species not already covered under law.
Many cities and counties already have bans or restrictions on the affected species. The concern is that more cities and counties will push to ban these species when they are notified that local residents own them.
Snakes that are regulated by TWPD under the “Controlled Exotic Snake Permit” found at 31 TAC §§55.651-65.656: All non-indigenous (species not native to Texas) venomous snakes and the following constrictors: African rock python (Python sebae), Asiatic rock python (Python molurus), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), reticulated python (python reticulates), and southern African python (Python natalensis)
“Dangerous wild animals” regulated under Chapter 822 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/HS/htm/HS.822.htm
(A) a lion;
(B) a tiger;
(C) an ocelot;
(D) a cougar;
(E) a leopard;
(F) a cheetah;
(G) a jaguar;
(H) a bobcat;
(I) a lynx;
(J) a serval;
(K) a caracal;
(L) a hyena;
(M) a bear;
N) a coyote;
(O) a jackal;
(P) a baboon;
(Q) a chimpanzee;
(R) an orangutan;
(S) a gorilla; or
(T) any hybrid of an animal listed in this subdivision.
Sample Letter (copy/paste or edit this and use it at https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c430.)
As a proud Texan and responsible animal owner, I oppose HB3482. The snakes that I keep are in secure cages, in a locking room, and inside a solid building which means there is primary, secondary, and even tertiary containment. Not only are the snakes kept under three levels of containment, but the species of snakes included in this bill are regulated by Texas Parks and Wildlife. This means I have to buy an annual permit, keep detailed records for review by TPWD if I sell any snakes, and keep my snakes securely contained. A snake escaping is punishable by up to a year in prison. Texas cities and counties already possess the authority to regulate all of the species in this bill as they see fit. If there are problems, they can be addressed. This bill is nothing more than an effort to prod local authorities to pass overreaching bans that are not needed.
Since I am a responsible snake owner, HB3482 is an infringement on my personal freedoms and if passed I would be in constant fear and stress that my local lawmakers will ban my animals. When cities and counties begin getting notified, then bans will follow as knee-jerk reactions to these notifications since snakes are the most misunderstood and irrationally feared of all animals. When these animals are housed properly, there is no public safety risks. If someone is keeping these snakes irresponsibly, he can be punished under multiple laws. Especially in Texas, I would hope legislators focus on punishing criminals and not overreaching to affect responsible citizens.
Unfortunately, collective punishment has become commonplace in government. We live in a time when one sensational story paints everyone involved in that same activity as a bad actor. With snakes, we hear of one person who is irresponsible so the general public thinks that is how we all act. To the contrary, reptiles (species included in this bill and others) are kept by over 1.5 million Texans, and most owners are responsible. Do not make an un-American decision by passing this piece of collective punishment legislation. Vote no to HB3482 and protect responsible Texans and our freedoms. Have a good day.
Your state legislators can be found at https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home.
