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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the study of plant disease and pest outbreaks by the |
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 71, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 71.901. REPORT ON DISEASES AND PESTS. (a) In this |
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section, "extension service" means the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
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Service. |
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(b) The extension service shall annually conduct a study of |
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each plant disease or pest outbreak in this state. |
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(c) In conducting the study under Subsection (b), the |
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extension service shall determine for each outbreak of a plant |
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disease or pest: |
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(1) the duration of the outbreak; |
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(2) how the outbreak was resolved, if applicable; and |
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(3) any other information the extension service |
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determines is relevant. |
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(d) Not later than January 1 of each year, the extension |
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service shall prepare and publish on the extension service's |
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Internet website a report of the previous year's study conducted |
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under this section. |
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(e) Not later than January 1, 2028, the extension service |
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shall prepare and publish on the extension service's Internet |
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website a report summarizing each annual report published under |
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Subsection (d) and providing policy recommendations to address |
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outbreaks of plant diseases and pests. The extension service shall |
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provide the report to the governor, commissioner, lieutenant |
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governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(f) This section expires January 31, 2028. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |