By: Eckhardt  S.B. No. 1285          (In the Senate - Filed February 14, 2025; February 28, 2025,   read first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture and   Rural Affairs; April 29, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 1;   April 29, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1285 By:  Hancock     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the protection of bats.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 63.101, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection   (b-1) to read as follows:          (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a [no]   person may not:                (1)  entomb or hunt a live bat; or                (2)  sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase,   or possess after purchase a bat or any part of a bat, dead or alive.          (b-1)  A bat or bat colony using a building or structure not   occupied by people as a roost site may be controlled only by a   nonlethal exclusion method that allows bats to leave but not   reenter the building or structure. The exclusion method described   by this subsection may not be implemented during the period each   year beginning May 1 and ending August 31.          (c)  This section does not apply to:                (1)  an animal control officer, a peace officer, a   licensed pest control professional, or a health official who   captures a bat that the officer, professional, or official   considers injured or diseased; or                (2)  a person who transports a bat for the purpose of:                      (A)  laboratory testing if the bat has exposed or   potentially exposed humans or domestic animals to rabies; or                      (B)  rehabilitation at a permitted rehabilitation   facility if the bat has had no known prior exposure with humans                [(3)  a person who is licensed to provide pest control   services].          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *