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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