Goes into effect Sept 1st.

http://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB3279

H.B. No. 3279




AN ACT
relating to the uprooting of seagrass plants; creating an offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 66, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 66.024 to read as follows:
Sec. 66.024. SEAGRASS PLANTS. (a) In this section,
"seagrass plant" means a flowering marine plant of the species:
(1) Cymodocea filiformis, known as manatee grass;
(2) Halodule beaudettei or Halodule wrightii, known as
shoal grass;
(3) Halophila engelmannii, known as star grass or
Engelmann's seagrass;
(4) Ruppia maritima, known as widgeon grass; or
(5) Thalassia testudinum, known as turtle grass.
(b) A person may not uproot or dig out any rooted seagrass
plant from a bay bottom or other saltwater bottom area in the
jurisdiction of this state by means of a propeller, except as that
uprooting or digging out may be authorized by a commercial license
or permit issued by the department.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that a
person:
(1) anchors a vessel within an area containing
seagrass plants and uproots a seagrass plant;
(2) uses an electric trolling motor within an area
containing seagrass plants and uproots a seagrass plant; or
(3) operates a vessel in a manner consistent with the
acceleration required to reach and stay on plane.
(d) A person who violates this section or a proclamation of
the commission under this section commits an offense that is a Class
C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.


______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House


I certify that H.B. No. 3279 was passed by the House on May
10, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 129, Nays 14, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 3279 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 118, Nays 28,
2 present, not voting.

______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3279 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 20, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1.

______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date

__________________
Governor

"1) anchors a vessel within an area containing
seagrass plants and uproots a seagrass plant"

Its impossible to anchor in grass and not uproot. Guess this means I am getting a power pole...

Y'all can thank the wonderful folks at the CCA for this new law

Hope your decoy anchors don't haul in to much grass

Good thing that Ike screwed up and the general health of Galveston bay is poor enough that there isn't much of those species around.

Guys further south are screwed. I know there were already some pretty strong protections for the grass beds, I guess this is in addition?

Are they going to mark of those areas, or do you just have to know?

people with mud motors better watch it lol

Where is that hunting in a Paddle boat thread.................

Air boat sales will go through the roof
Wal must be a psychic

The galveston bay system didn't have much seagrass before ike. The water here is too turbid and deep in most areas to promote seagrass growth.

I should probably add I was talking about the time immediately preceding Ike. Say, 20-25 years to present. Not historically.

You got that one out of context.

(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that a
person:
(1) anchors a vessel within an area containing
seagrass plants and uproots a seagrass plant;

Thank you, I will, I don't hate the environment.

lol I got mine

interesting

You want to fix the bay then stop daming all the rivers. All of y'all don't need that drinking water or a place to water ski. And who needs those pesky commercial fisherman out there feeding people!! Screw them i just want more redfish for me!!! Go CCA!!!!

The law basically states don't prop scar the grass....really that is about it. If you see anything more than that, you could use some work on reading comprehension. As a local fisherman and avid duck hunter, I do not see how this is a bad thing.

Sure seems to be some ruffled feathers from North TX over this. What's with the misguided anger of CCA?

I can see being a psychic in my future maybe:)

I don't see what the big deal is. I don't like tearing up grass as it stands anyway. Only a dumb arse will sit there and grind up a prop trying to get on top in hallow water. I always just motored over to where I can get on top without tearing things up.

My thoughts exactly. I think this will be an overall good decision.

x2. Seems like more grass would offer better habitat for the wintering birds anyway. There is nothing in there about decoy wieghts uprooting grass - only props. It was a good move.

I'm with jeff on this one. How many people has the CCA put out of a job?

As long as your not a commerical fisherman CCA loves you if, you are a commerical fisherman man just know the CCA enviormentalist don't like you and are lobbing against you and want your permit pulled!!!

Well since I live in north texas and also have a place on the coast, ill put my two cents in.

Putting recreational wants above ones lively hood is stupid... and self absord.

Its not just the sea grass laws, we have had those in place in estas flats and redfish bay for some time now. Its the other things that CCA does like pretty much shutting down the commerical floundering, stopping all new shrimp and flounder permits, lobbying for snapper season in texas waters to mirror the feds..etc.

CCA and DU are nothing more now then lobby groups that have turned enviromentalists might as well call them the Sierra Club


As far as the sea grass goes, I don't care what boat you are in wethers its a majek redfish or shallowsport you will eventually catch grass. I'm not talking about just being a dumbarse and spinning up in 8 inches, talking about motoring into a spot, or even just getting up in 24" you will eventually caught some grass, that shouldn't be ticket worthy.

this legislation pretty much shut down the land cut, redfish bay, Estes flats, a 1/3 0f the upper LM.. to any thing but airboats, poling skiffs and kayaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6THD4oySILU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKF6R5QFLgo

read the post on them

Some big talk of saving a couple hundred jobs (which are great when sustainable), without mention of the thousands of folks that rely on a healthy ecosystem for tourism and recreation.

I assume this law is designed for the dumbarses mentioned, and those that think propscars aren't that big of a deal. Hopefully not enforced everytime a piece of grass is accidentally trimmed.

You really want that up to interruption? Should be awareness, and self regulated, not law

Ya a few hundreds jobs...... including every commerical saltwater fisherman in the US. Not just TX. They tried to ban commercial Mullet and Merkel in severl southern states. ..luckily they got defeated. What about them trying to reverse the FL law not requiring shore fishing licenses. CCA is a feel good org, supported by everyday recreational fisherman which unfortantly have zero idea of the legislation CCA pushes. CCA is no different then DU now an over zealous eco group

Its iconic how we have so many enviormentalist on this thread still running 2 stroke outboards/mudmotors, foam or plastic decoys, lead decoy weights, lead dove shot..etc