Tex. Parks and Wildlife Code § 31.073
This is the official text of Tex. Parks and Wildlife Code § 31.073, part of Texas’s Parks and Wildlife Code — governs state parks, hunting, and fishing.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 31.073. CANOES, PUNTS, ROWBOATS, SAILBOATS, RUBBER RAFTS, RACING SHELLS, ROWING SCULLS, KAYAKS, AND OTHER PADDLE CRAFT; EQUIPMENT EXEMPTIONS.
Official statutory text
(a) All canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, sailboats, rubber rafts, and other paddle craft when paddled, poled, oared, or windblown are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except each vessel must have the following:
(1) one Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device for each person aboard; and
(2) the lights prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for vessels and required under Section 31.064.
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a vessel described by that subsection, except a canoe or kayak, that is 16 feet or more in length must be equipped with at least one Type IV personal flotation device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the commandant of the Coast Guard.
(b) Racing shells, rowing sculls, and racing kayaks while participating in or practicing for an officially sanctioned race are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except the lights prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for vessels and required under Section 31.064.
(c) In this section, "racing shell," "rowing scull," or "racing kayak" means a manually propelled boat:
(1) recognized by a national or international racing association for use in competitive racing;
(2) not designed or used to carry equipment serving any purpose other than competitive racing; and
(3) in which each occupant, except a coxswain, rows, sculls, or paddles.
(1) one Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device for each person aboard; and
(2) the lights prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for vessels and required under Section 31.064.
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a vessel described by that subsection, except a canoe or kayak, that is 16 feet or more in length must be equipped with at least one Type IV personal flotation device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the commandant of the Coast Guard.
(b) Racing shells, rowing sculls, and racing kayaks while participating in or practicing for an officially sanctioned race are exempt from all safety equipment requirements except the lights prescribed by the commandant of the Coast Guard for vessels and required under Section 31.064.
(c) In this section, "racing shell," "rowing scull," or "racing kayak" means a manually propelled boat:
(1) recognized by a national or international racing association for use in competitive racing;
(2) not designed or used to carry equipment serving any purpose other than competitive racing; and
(3) in which each occupant, except a coxswain, rows, sculls, or paddles.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Texas?
Find a Texas lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.