BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2840

By: Longoria

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

State law provides for maturity and fitness standards for the sale of citrus fruit. However, there is no distinction in the standards between a piece of fruit sold for consumption and a piece of fruit to be processed into juice. While some fruit may not meet selling standards and therefore must be disposed of or destroyed, there may be value in that fruit for juicing, which is covered under federal standards. H.B. 2840 seeks to address this issue by generally exempting grapefruit and oranges that are processed for juice from statutory provisions governing citrus fruit maturity standards.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2840 amends the Agriculture Code to generally exempt grapefruit and oranges that are processed for juice from statutory provisions governing citrus fruit maturity standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.