By: Kacal (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 2271
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2023;
  May 8, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,
  Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 12, 2023, reported favorably by
  the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 12, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the protection of aquaculture operations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by
  adding Section 2.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2.007.  POLICY: AQUACULTURE. (a) In this section,
  "aquaculture" has the meaning assigned by Section 134.001.
         (b)  The agricultural policy of this state must recognize
  that aquaculture is a type of agriculture and must be awarded the
  same rights, privileges, and protections as any other type of
  agricultural operation.
         SECTION 2.  Section 134.001(1), Agriculture Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (1)  "Cultured species" means aquatic animals or plants
  raised under conditions where at least a portion of their life cycle
  is controlled by an aquaculturist.
         SECTION 3.  Section 251.002(1), Agriculture Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (1)  "Agricultural operation" includes the following
  activities:
                     (A)  cultivating the soil;
                     (B)  producing crops for human food, animal feed,
  planting seed, or fiber;
                     (C)  floriculture;
                     (D)  viticulture;
                     (E)  horticulture;
                     (F)  silviculture;
                     (G)  wildlife management;
                     (H)  raising or keeping livestock or poultry;
  [and]
                     (I)  planting cover crops or leaving land idle for
  the purpose of participating in any governmental program or normal
  crop or livestock rotation procedure; and
                     (J)  aquaculture.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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