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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the office of food system security |
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and resiliency in the Department of Agriculture and the management |
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of the Texas food system security and resiliency planning council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.052 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.052. OFFICE OF FOOD SYSTEM SECURITY AND RESILIENCY. |
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(a) In this section, "office" means the office of food system |
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security and resiliency established by this section. |
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(b) The office of food system security and resiliency is |
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established as a division within the department. |
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(c) The office is responsible for food system security and |
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resiliency in this state, including: |
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(1) coordinating state resources and programs so food |
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access industry professionals can efficiently use resources to meet |
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the needs of this state; |
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(2) ensuring a food system in this state that is free |
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of disruption; |
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(3) promoting the growth, manufacture, and processing |
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of agricultural products in this state for farm-to-store and |
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farm-to-table consumption; |
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(4) developing regional food system security and |
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resiliency planning by working with other state agencies, counties, |
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municipalities, school districts, and local governments; and |
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(5) promoting policies to establish more localized |
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food markets or food access points through measures such as: |
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(A) connecting retailers, distributors, |
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municipalities, counties, school districts, and other local |
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governments to local producers; and |
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(B) collaborating with local stakeholders to |
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expand food access across this state. |
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(d) The office shall, not later than December 1 of each |
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even-numbered year, make recommendations to the legislature for |
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legislation that may improve food system security and resiliency in |
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this state. |
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(e) The office shall manage the Texas food system security |
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and resiliency planning council under Chapter 23. |
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SECTION 2. Section 23.001(2), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "Office" means[: |
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[(A)] the office of food system security and |
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resiliency under Section 12.052 [if that office is established as a |
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division within the department by an Act of the 88th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2023; or |
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[(B) the food and nutrition division of the |
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department if the office of food system security and resiliency is |
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not established as a division within the department by an Act of the |
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88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023]. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Not later than December 31, 2025, the |
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Department of Agriculture shall establish the office of food system |
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security and resiliency under Section 12.052, Agriculture Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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(b) The food and nutrition division of the Department of |
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Agriculture shall continue to manage the Texas food system security |
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and resiliency planning council until the department establishes |
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the office of food system security and resiliency. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |