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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the impact of certain seed banks and seed |
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preservation on access to food and the environment. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "department" means the |
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Department of Agriculture. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF SEED BANKS AND SEED |
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PRESERVATION. (a) The department shall conduct a study on the |
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impact of seed banks and seed preservation in each county: |
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(1) with a population of more than 2,000,000; and |
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(2) that has a conservation facility located in the |
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county. |
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(b) The department shall collaborate with any state agency, |
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political subdivision, or other organization the department |
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determines relevant to the study. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the department shall assess the |
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impact a seed bank or seed preservation may have on: |
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(1) access to food, including: |
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(A) the number of people a seed bank can generate |
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food for; and |
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(B) the limitations of a seed bank in generating |
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food or feeding people; and |
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(2) the environment, including ecosystem restoration |
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and biodiversity recovery following a natural disaster, including a |
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hurricane, fire, or flood. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the |
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department shall prepare and submit a report to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and |
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appropriate standing committees of the legislature on the results |
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of the study conducted under Section 2 of this Act and |
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recommendations for legislative or other action on seed banks, seed |
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preservation, and seed germination and propagation. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires January 1, |
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2027. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |