✅Relating to making a donation to the Operation Game Thief fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license

✅ SB 384: Voluntary Donations to Support Texas Wildlife Enforcement

What it says it does:
SB 384 lets Texans add a small voluntary donation when buying a hunting or fishing license to support Operation Game Thief, the state program that pays rewards for reporting poaching and wildlife crimes.

What it actually changes:
It adds a donation box to every hunting and fishing license form, both paper and online. Donations can be $1, $5, $10, or $20. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department must deposit the funds each month into the Operation Game Thief fund and can keep up to 3 percent for administrative costs.

Who is pushing for it:
Senator Flores authored the bill. Supporters in the files include the Texas Wildlife Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Game Warden Peace Officers Association, Texas Foundation for Conservation, and the Texas Municipal Police Association.

Who benefits:
Hunters and fishers who want stronger wildlife protection without new fees, game wardens who rely on tips to catch poachers, and conservation groups that depend on enforcement to protect natural resources.

Who gets left out or exposed:
No groups are directly harmed. The only risk is that without clear public reporting, the 3 percent administrative allowance could reduce transparency over how much money reaches the field.

Why this matters long term:
It creates a steady stream of voluntary donations to help stop illegal hunting and fishing. Over time, that could strengthen wildlife protection across Texas without raising costs for everyday people.

What to watch next:
TPWD should publish clear annual reports on how much is collected and how the money is used to build trust and encourage more donations.

Bottom line:
SB 384 gives Texans a simple, voluntary way to back law enforcement that protects wildlife. It’s a small, smart move that keeps power local and builds public support for conservation.

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