88R8544 KBB-F
 
  By: Ashby H.B. No. 2308
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to nuisance actions and other actions against agricultural
  operations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 251.001, Agriculture Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 251.001.  POLICY.  Food security being essential, it
  [It] is the policy of this state to conserve, protect, and encourage
  the development and improvement of its agricultural land for the
  production of food and other agricultural products. It is the
  purpose of this chapter to reduce the loss to the state of its
  agricultural resources by limiting the circumstances under which
  agricultural operations may be legally threatened, subject to suit,
  regulated, or otherwise declared [considered] to be a nuisance.
         SECTION 2.  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
  including hay and other forages, planting seed, or fiber;
                     (C)  floriculture;
                     (D)  viticulture;
                     (E)  horticulture;
                     (F)  silviculture;
                     (G)  wildlife management;
                     (H)  raising or keeping livestock or poultry,
  including veterinary services; 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.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 251.003, 251.004, and 251.006,
  Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 251.003.  ESTABLISHED DATE OF OPERATION. For purposes
  of this chapter, the established date of operation is the date on
  which an agricultural operation commenced agricultural operations
  [operation.  If the physical facilities of the agricultural
  operation are subsequently expanded, the established date of
  operation for each expansion is a separate and independent
  established date of operation established as of the date of
  commencement of the expanded operation, and the commencement of
  expanded operation does not divest the agricultural operation of a
  previously established date of operation].
         Sec. 251.004.  NUISANCE OR OTHER ACTIONS. (a) No nuisance
  action or other action to restrain an agricultural operation may be
  brought against an agricultural operation that has lawfully been in
  operation for one year or more prior to the date on which the action
  is brought.  A person who brings a nuisance action or other action
  to restrain an agricultural operation that is not prohibited by
  this section must establish each element of the action by clear and
  convincing evidence [, if the conditions or circumstances
  complained of as constituting the basis for the nuisance action
  have existed substantially unchanged since the established date of
  operation].  This subsection does not restrict or impede the
  authority of this state to [protect the public health, safety, and
  welfare or the authority of a municipality to] enforce state law.
         (b)  A person who brings a nuisance action or other action to
  restrain an agricultural operation and seeks [for] damages or
  injunctive relief against an agricultural operation that has
  existed for one year or more prior to the date that the action is
  instituted or who violates the provisions of Subsection (a) [of
  this section] is liable to the agricultural operator for:
               (1)  all costs and expenses incurred in defense of the
  action, including [but not limited to] attorney's fees, court
  costs, travel, and other related incidental expenses incurred in
  the defense; and
               (2)  any other damages found by the trier of fact.
         (c)  This section does not affect or defeat the right of any
  person to recover for injuries or damages sustained because of an
  agricultural operation or portion of an agricultural operation that
  is conducted in violation of a federal, state, or local statute or
  governmental requirement that applies to the agricultural
  operation or portion of an agricultural operation.
         Sec. 251.006.  AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. (a) An owner,
  lessee, or occupant of agricultural land is not liable to the state,
  a governmental unit, or the owner, lessee, or occupant of other
  agricultural land for the construction or maintenance on the land
  of an agricultural improvement if the construction is not expressly
  prohibited by statute [or a governmental requirement] in effect at
  the time the improvement is constructed. Such an improvement does
  not constitute a nuisance and is not otherwise subject to suit or
  injunction.
         (b)  [This section does not apply to an improvement that
  obstructs the flow of water, light, or air to other land.] This
  section does not prevent the enforcement of a state or federal
  statute [or governmental requirement to protect public health or
  safety].
         (c)  In this section:
               (1)  "Agricultural land" includes:
                     (A)  any land the use of which qualifies the land
  for appraisal based on agricultural use as defined under Subchapter
  D, Chapter 23, Tax Code; and
                     (B)  any other land on which agricultural
  operations exist or may take place.
               (2)  "Agricultural improvement" includes pens, barns,
  fences, arenas, and other improvements designed for:
                     (A)  the sheltering, restriction, or feeding of
  animal or aquatic life;
                     (B)  [, for] storage of produce or feed; [,] or
                     (C)  [for] storage or maintenance of:
                           (i)  implements used for management
  functions; or
                           (ii)  equipment necessary to carry out
  agricultural operations.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, is amended by
  adding Section 251.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 251.007.  CONFLICT WITH OTHER STATUTES. If there is a
  conflict between this chapter and other law, this chapter prevails. 
         SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
  this Act.  A cause of action that accrued before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the cause of action
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.