On May 20, the Texas State House of Representatives passed SJR 22 – a constitutional amendment that would protect hunting and fishing in the Texas Bill of Rights. The amendment, after passing both chambers of the Texas State Legislature, will now be placed on the November 3 ballot to be ratified by the state’s voters.
Sponsored by Texas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Senator Brandon Creighton, SJR 22 passed through the Texas House of Representatives with overwhelming support: a 111- 1 vote in favor of the proposed amendment. SJR 22 received similar support in the Texas State Senate, passing with a bipartisan vote of 27 -3 in favor. Also instrumental in the passage of the proposed amendment was Texas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Representative Trent Ashby, who introduced HJR 61, the House version of the bill, setting the stage for SJR 22 to proceed to the full Texas House of Representatives for a vote.
“This is a monumental moment for Texas sportsmen and women, who will have the opportunity to vote for an amendment that ensures their right to hunt and fish is protected under the Texas constitution for generations to come,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane. “We commend Senator Creighton and Representative Ashby for championing this legislation, and we laud the Texas state legislators who supported the passage of SJR 22.”
Texas has one of the largest sportsmen’s communities in the country, with 2.7 million hunters and anglers spending more than $4 billion annually and supporting more than 65,000 jobs in the Lone Star State.
Currently, 18 state constitutions contain a similar version of the Right to Hunt and Fish amendment proposed in Texas, 17 of which were approved via ballot measure by the voters of that state.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) commends the work of Dallas Safari Club who, along with the support of the National Rifle Association and other local sportsmen’s groups, championed Texas’ Right to Hunt and Fish legislation.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
