Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

__________ N ATURAL
ESOURCES/Agriculture
ATURAL RESOURCES
77 th Texas Legislature
House Sponsor: Representative Walker
Currently, Texas law does not provide contracted growers with a secured interest in the matter of
bankruptcy cases.
Creates an agricultural lien on the proceeds of grown crops produced on contract with a buyer.
Department of Agriculture - S.B. 938
by Senator Armbrister
House Sponsor: Representative Cook
Currently, there are some provisions of law relating to the Department of Agriculture (department) that are
outdated and inconsistent with current practice. Among these are provisions regarding the department's
organic, seed, and weights and measures regulatory programs, general authority, and the octane testing
program.
Simplifies the department’s responsibilities to collect and publish statistics related to developing the
agricultural resources of Texas.
Expands the department’s discretion in ability to sanction licensees.
Gives the commissioner of agriculture, rather than the Comptroller of Public Accounts, rulemaking authority
in certain matters relating to the regulation of the sale of motor fuels containing ethanol and methanol.
Moving Rural Affairs - H.B. 819
by Representative Counts, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Duncan
Transfers the Office of Rural Affairs from the Texas Department of Economic Development to the
Department of Agriculture to make it more effective in helping rural communities pursue economic
development.
Distribution of Surplus Agricultural Products - H.B. 1086
by Representative Solis, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Duncan
Allows the Texas Department of Agriculture to create a program awarding grants to nonprofit organizations
to collect and distribute agricultural surplus to food banks and other charitable organizations. Eligible
nonprofit organizations must have at least five years experience coordinating a statewide network of food
banks and present the department with a detailed proposal of projected costs, goals, and plan for
evaluating the proposal.
Agricultural Development Act - H.B. 1880
by Representatives Swinford and Homer
Senate Research Center 211