Designation of Nonprofit Organization for the Help Feed Hungry Texans Program

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Summary

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Action

Designation of Nonprofit Organization for the

Help Feed Hungry Texans Program

May 22, 2025

I.      Executive Summary: Staff seeks designation of a nonprofit organization to receive donations, made by people when purchasing a hunting license, for a statewide program that provides hunters a way to donate legally harvested deer to local food-assistance providers.

II.     Discussion: Texas Parks and Wildlife Code section 42.011 allows a person purchasing a hunting license to make a voluntary contribution to a nonprofit organization, designated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission), whose purposes include administering a statewide program to provide hunters a way to donate legally-harvested deer to local food-assistance providers. Monetary contributions are held in trust by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and then sent to the designated nonprofit organization to administer the program.

In August 2015, the Commission by resolution designated the initial nonprofit entity (Feeding Texas) to receive donations and administer the program. The agreement with the current non-profit organization is set to expire at the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, and staff is in the process of re-bidding the contract for FY 2026.

TPWD staff seeks Commission designation of a nonprofit organization to administer the Help Feed Hungry Texans program starting in FY 2026.

III.   Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Attachment – 1

1. Exhibit A — Resolution

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission

Designating a Nonprofit Organization to Receive Donations Made by Persons when

Purchasing a Hunting License for a Statewide Program to Provide Hunters a Way to Donate

Legally Harvested Deer to Local Food Assistance

Resolution

      Whereas, the 84th Texas Legislature (Regular Session, 2005), enacted Senate Bill 1978 to add Section 42.011 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (TPWC);

      Whereas, TPWC section 42.011 as implemented by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) provides that when a person applies for a recreational license, the person may contribute money to a nonprofit organization designated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission);

      Whereas, pursuant to TPWC section 42.011, the designated nonprofit organization’s purposes must include the administration of a statewide program that provides hunters with a way to donate legally harvested deer to local food assistance providers;

      Whereas, the statewide program administered by the designated nonprofit organization must include the recruitment of meat processors who, for a nominal fee to cover processing costs, process and package the venison and contact the food assistance providers to pick up the venison;

      Whereas, the Commission in August 2015 designated the nonprofit Feeding Texas to receive donations under TPWC section 42.011;

      Whereas, the contract with Feeding Texas expires on August 14, 2025, and TPWD has rebid the contract;

      Whereas, TPWD posted a notice on its main Internet website titled “Help Hunters Feed the Hungry!” and a link to an application;

      Whereas, TPWD staff received and carefully reviewed all timely received applications;

      Whereas, TPWD staff has determined that the nonprofit organization Feeding Texas meets the criteria established in Texas Parks and Wildlife Code section 42.011;

      Whereas, TPWD staff recommends the Commission designate Feeding Texas as the nonprofit organization to receive donations made by persons when they apply for a recreational license; and

      Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission designates Feeding Texas as the nonprofit organization to receive monetary donations made by persons when they apply for a recreational license.

      Adopted and approved this 22^st day of May, 2025.