The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved new proof-of-residency requirements for anyone buying a recreational hunting or fishing license in the state.
The changes, aimed at preventing fraud and ensuring that only eligible residents receive lower-priced licenses and benefits, take effect on August 1 — two weeks before annual licenses go on sale on August 15.
Under the updated rules, Texas residents and those from most other states must present an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification certificate when purchasing a license.
Residents of the District of Columbia and 19 other states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington — will need to show an unexpired driver’s license or identification card that meets the federal REAL ID Act of 2005.
Those without a REAL ID-compliant card must also present an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military identification card, a Texas license to carry a handgun, an original birth certificate, or an original U.S. government-issued document for a child born abroad to U.S. citizens.
People from foreign countries must present a valid foreign passport and any other documents required for legal entry into the United States.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the revisions will help stop individuals from misrepresenting their residency status at the point of sale.
Recently, the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation adopted a similar rule to deter ineligible individuals from obtaining or renewing occupational licenses. Applicants must now present a valid Social Security number or another document verifying their lawful presence in the U.S., such as a state REAL ID driver license or identification card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military I.D., or an immigration document.