85R1376 SMH-D     By: Phillips H.B. No. 643       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the eligibility of land for appraisal for ad valorem tax   purposes as qualified open-space land on the basis of its use for   wildlife management.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 23.51(7), Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:                (7)  "Wildlife management" means:                      (A)  actively using land in a manner that meets   the standards developed under Section 23.521 [that at the time the   wildlife-management use began was appraised as qualified   open-space land under this subchapter or as qualified timber land   under Subchapter E] in at least three of the following ways to   propagate a sustaining breeding, migrating, or wintering   population of indigenous wild animals for human use, including   food, medicine, or recreation:                            (i)  habitat control;                            (ii)  erosion control;                            (iii)  predator control;                            (iv)  providing supplemental supplies of   water;                            (v)  providing supplemental supplies of   food;                            (vi)  providing shelters; and                            (vii)  making of census counts to determine   population;                      (B)  actively using land to protect federally   listed endangered species under a federal permit if the land is:                            (i)  included in a habitat preserve and is   subject to a conservation easement created under Chapter 183,   Natural Resources Code; or                            (ii)  part of a conservation development   under a federally approved habitat conservation plan that restricts   the use of the land to protect federally listed endangered species;   or                      (C)  actively using land for a conservation or   restoration project to provide compensation for natural resource   damages pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,   Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et   seq.), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. Section 2701 et   seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. Section   1251 et seq.), or Chapter 40, Natural Resources Code.          SECTION 2.  Section 23.52(g), Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:          (g)  The category of land that qualifies under Section   23.51(7) is the native pasture category [of the land under this   subchapter or Subchapter E, as applicable, before the   wildlife-management use began].          SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to the appraisal of land   for ad valorem tax purposes for a tax year that begins on or after   the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2018.