1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to agricultural policy for the state.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 2.003, Agriculture Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 2.003. POLICY. (a) The agricultural policy of this
1-7 state must consider and address:
1-8 (1) water availability issues, including planning for
1-9 water supplies and drought preparedness and response, by ensuring
1-10 that a high priority is assigned to the agricultural use of water;
1-11 (2) transportation issues, by ensuring an efficient
1-12 and well-maintained [including the] farm-to-market road system and
1-13 intermodal transportation to provide adequate transportation for
1-14 agricultural products at competitive rates;
1-15 (3) state regulatory issues, by ensuring the
1-16 efficiency and profitability of agricultural enterprises while at
1-17 the same time protecting the health, safety, and welfare of
1-18 agricultural workers and citizens of this state.
1-19 (4) state tax policy, by encouraging tax policy that
1-20 promotes the agriculture industry, including production and
1-21 processing;
1-22 (5) the availability of capital, including state loans
1-23 or grants authorized by Section 52-a, Article III, Texas
1-24 Constitution, by facilitating access to capital through loans and
1-25 grants authorized by the Texas Constitution for agricultural
2-1 producers who have established or intend to establish agricultural
2-2 operations in Texas;
2-3 (6) the promotion of Texas agricultural products, by
2-4 promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of agricultural
2-5 commodities and enhancing and expanding sales of Texas raw and
2-6 processed agricultural products in local, [including development
2-7 of] domestic, and foreign markets;
2-8 (7) eradication, [or] control, or exclusion of:
2-9 (A) injurious pests and diseases that affect
2-10 crops and livestock; and
2-11 (B) noxious plant and brush species;
2-12 (8) research and education efforts, including
2-13 financial risk management, [and] consumer education, and education
2-14 in the public schools, by encouraging promotional and educational
2-15 programs involving all segments of agriculture and maintaining a
2-16 solid foundation of stable and long-term support for food and
2-17 agricultural research while improving accountability and gathering
2-18 public input concerning research;
2-19 (9) promotion of efficient utilization of soil and
2-20 water resources, by encouraging efforts to sustain the long-term
2-21 productivity of landowners by conserving and protecting the basic
2-22 resources of agriculture, including soil, water, and air, while
2-23 working within federal mandates relating to natural resources;
2-24 (10) rural economic and infrastructure development, by
2-25 enhancing, protecting, and encouraging the production of food and
2-26 other agricultural products;
3-1 (11) protection of property rights and the right to
3-2 farm, by promoting and protecting agricultural activities that are
3-3 established before nonagricultural activities located near the
3-4 agricultural activities and are reasonable and consistent with good
3-5 agricultural practices;
3-6 (12) preservation of farmland, ranchland, timberland,
3-7 and other land devoted to agricultural purposes, by encouraging the
3-8 development and improvement of the land for the production of food
3-9 and other agricultural products consistent with the philosophy of a
3-10 private property rights state;
3-11 (13) food safety, by continuing to support production
3-12 of the safest food in the world with regulations based on sound
3-13 scientific evidence;
3-14 (14) efforts to participate in the formulation of
3-15 federal programs and policies, by actively addressing the
3-16 development of federal policy that affects this state;
3-17 (15) promotion of rural fire service, by seeking
3-18 opportunities to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of
3-19 rural fire service for the protection of the general public and
3-20 natural resources; and
3-21 (16) promotion of value-added agricultural
3-22 enterprises, by promoting efforts to increase the value of Texas
3-23 agricultural products through processing, management practices, or
3-24 other procedures that add consumer benefits to agricultural goods.
3-25 (b) For the purposes of Subsection (a)(11), an agricultural
3-26 activity is presumed to be:
4-1 (1) reasonable and not a nuisance; and
4-2 (2) a good agricultural practice not adversely
4-3 affecting public health and safety if the activity is undertaken in
4-4 conformity with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
4-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
4-6 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
4-7 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
4-8 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
4-9 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 331 passed the Senate on
March 7, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4, one
present, not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
amendment on March 27, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 331 passed the House, with
amendment, on March 22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 139,
Nays 0, two present, not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor