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HB 4545

Relating to access to land managed by the Parks and Wildlife Department from adjacent privately owned land; authorizing a fee.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Tom Oliverson

HB 4545 authorizes Texas Parks and Wildlife to charge fees allowing adjacent private landowners to access state-managed public land through their property.

Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
#fees&othernontaxrevenue--state(i0362) #parks&wildlifecommission(v1564) #parks&wildlifedepartment(v0045) #parks&wildlife--general(i0585) #parks&wildlife--parks(i0555) #propertyinterests--general(i0620)
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Bill Summary · HB 4545

Legislative bill overview

HB 4545 would allow property owners adjacent to land managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to access that public land from their private property, while authorizing TPWD to collect fees for this access arrangement. The bill creates a legal framework for what is currently either prohibited or unregulated access across private land to reach public wildlife management areas.

Why is this important

This addresses a practical access problem where landowners are isolated from public recreational resources by private property boundaries. It could increase public access to hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation on state-managed lands while potentially generating revenue for TPWD operations and creating compensation mechanisms for private landowners whose property becomes a de facto public corridor.

Potential points of contention

  • Private property rights vs. public access: Landowners may object to state-authorized public foot traffic crossing their property, even with fee compensation, citing privacy concerns and liability issues
  • Fee structure fairness: Disputes could arise over how fees are calculated, distributed between TPWD and adjacent landowners, and whether they adequately compensate private property impacts
  • Liability and enforcement: Unclear who bears responsibility if accidents occur on private land used for public access, and how TPWD would enforce rules on privately owned crossing corridors

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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