By: Wilson H.B. No. 5339

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the advancing research for agricultural sustainability and pesticide harm reduction in institutions of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.9015 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9015. HIGHER EDUCATION AGRICULTURAL REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) For the purposes of this section, "regenerative agriculture" means the agricultural practices and techniques that improve soil health, increase soil organic matter, improve water infiltration and retention, and increase biological diversity in agricultural systems. The practices and techniques fall within one or more of the following principles:

(1) maintaining living roots within the soil;

(2) minimizing soil disturbance;

(3) maximizing diversity in the soil;

(4) protecting the soil surface;

(5) integrating livestock and poultry; and

(6) improving agricultural resilience and restoration.

(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall establish and administer the Higher Education Regenerative Agriculture Grant Program to fund institutions of higher education to:

(1) conduct research assessing the environmental, mental, health, and ecological impacts of pesticide use within Texas and beyond;

(2) develop innovative, evidence-based methods to support agricultural producers in transitioning to organic and pesticide-free farming practices; and

(3) provide education and technical assistance programs focused on regenerative agriculture for students, agricultural producers, and rural communities.

(b) Eligible institutions shall include all institutions of higher education, as defined in Section 61.003, Education Code, including non-land-grant universities and land-grant universities. Priority shall be given to:

(1) non-land-grant universities conducting community-centered outreach and applied research, including Texas State University's Small Producers' Initiative; and

(2) institutions that demonstrate active partnerships with agricultural producers and organizations to implement regenerative farming practices; and

(3) institutions whose agricultural programs obtain 25% or less of their funding from companies that manufacture, market, or sell synthetic pesticides.

(c) Grants awarded under the program may be used for the following purposes:

(1) multi-year research projects focused on transitioning agricultural producers from conventional pesticide use to regenerative and organic farming systems;

(2) research on healthy soil practices, including identifying the most practical and beneficial techniques for achieving and maintaining soil health;

(3) university-led education and training programs targeting agricultural producers, with an emphasis on small and mid-sized farms;

(4) support for student-led projects, internships, and research focused on regenerative agriculture and pesticide harm reduction;

(5) development and distribution of digital and physical educational resources for rural agricultural communities and farming regions across Texas;

(6) collaborative research initiatives between higher education institutions, nonprofits, and agricultural organizations to pilot and test regenerative farming solutions;

(7) comprehensive research on all categories of pesticides, including assessing their risks, sustainability, and long-term impacts on ecosystems and public health in Texas, including impacts on children living in rural communities and farmers' health; and

(8) additional purposes explicitly approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, following a thorough and systematic review.

(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall:

(1) develop program guidelines and applications;

(2) provide technical assistance to institutions that are applying for grants;

(3) conduct periodic reviews and site visits to ensure proper use of funds and compliance with grant agreements. Institutions found to misuse grant funds or fail to meet program requirements shall be subject to the following consequences:

(A) suspension or termination of funding;

(B) disqualification from future grant cycles; and

(C) repayment of misused funds;

(4) oversee the creation and maintenance of a statewide online resource hub to share educational materials, research findings, and best practices developed through the program; and

(5) require annual progress reports from grant recipients, including:

(A) research and education achievements related to agricultural sustainability;

(B) measurable outcomes, such as the adoption of organic farming practices or reductions in pesticide use by producers; and

(C) financial documentation detailing the use of awarded funds.

(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall collaborate to:

(1) align grant-funded research with existing soil and water conservation programs;

(2) ensure grant projects complement statewide efforts to improve soil health and reduce pesticide usage; and

(3) facilitate partnerships between funded higher education institutions and local soil and water conservation districts.

(f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall jointly prepare and submit an annual report to the legislature summarizing:

(1) the outcomes and impacts of the grant program, which shall include both benefits, negatives, and other outcomes;

(2) the progress made in reducing pesticide use and improving soil health; and

(3) the legislative recommendations to further advance agricultural sustainability research, education, and outreach in Texas, including recommendations.

SECTION 2. Section 51.9015, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.

SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop and make available on the board's Internet website the form to apply for the grant, the annual reports with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, including any guidelines, recommendations, and approvals.

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, 2025.