By Lauren Fairbanks and J Pete Laney
TAD Governmental Affairs
The 89th Legislative Session is now past the halfway mark. Legislative deadlines are beginning to loom over the Capitol including May 12 for House bills to be reported out of their respective committees and May 24 for Senate bills to make it through the House.
A key hurdle in the process was surpassed on April 12 with the passage of Senate Bill 1, the biennial budget, by the Texas House. There was more than 13 hours of debate on the almost 400 pre-filed amendments. The final budget was passed by House members by a vote of 118-26.
The plan approved a $337.4 billion spending plan, which closely aligns with the Senate’s plan. Key items include $51 billion dollars earmarked for property tax relief, including an additional 6.8 cents in property tax rate compression to buy down school district property tax rates. The bill also includes $6.5 billion for border security initiatives, $30 billion for road projects, and $1 billion to fund a school choice program. The $337.4 billion budget was $16 billion below the limit on general revenue spending and $3 billion below the state constitution’s limit on spending from state tax revenue.
Next, a conference committee composed of five Texas House members appointed by Speaker Dustin Burrows (Chair: Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood), Mary González (D-San Elizario), Stan Kitzman (R-Pattison) Angelia Orr (R-Itasca) and Armando Walle (D-Houston)) and five state senators (Chair: Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) and Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)) appointed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will craft a final budget bill for consideration by both chambers of the Legislature before finally being sent to the governor.
The TAD governmental relations team continues to monitor legislation on your behalf.
Some of the major bills we are watching with impact to the dairy industry include:
- SB 25 by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)/HB 25 by Rep. Lacey Hull (R-Houston) relating to health and nutrition standards to promote healthy living; authorizing a civil penalty. SB 25 passed the Senate unanimously and is pending in the House Public Health Committee; HB 25 has been heard by the House Public Health Committee’s Subcommittee on Disease Prevention and Women and Children’s Health and left pending.
- HB 43 by Rep. Stan Kitzman (R-Pattison)/SB 2985 by Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) relating to the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority and to a study and report on plant diseases and pest outbreaks. HB 43 was reported favorably from House Agriculture & Livestock Committee on April 9; SB 2985 was referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee on April 7.
- HB 147 by Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City)/SB 503 by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) relating to the establishment of an electronic registry of livestock marks and brands, streamlining the process of having to register in each county. HB 147 is pending on the calendar to be heard by the full House; SB 503 passed the Senate on April 1 and is pending in the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee.
- HB 164 by Rep. Diego Barnal (D-San Antonio)/SB 243 by Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton) relating to the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities. HB 164 was referred to the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee; SB 243 was referred to Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee.
- HB 1275 by Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-Clint)/SB 909 by Sen. Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) relating to the issuance of permits for producer dairies in certain areas of this state. HB 1275 passed the House Public Health Committee and was sent to the Local & Consent Calendar on April 8; SB 909 has been referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
- HB 1669 by Rep. Lacey Hull (R-Houston) relating to the sale of raw milk and raw milk products in this state; requiring a permit. It was left pending in House Public Health after a public hearing on March 31.
- HB 1674 by Rep. Helen Kerwin (R-Glen Rose)/SB 886 by Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) relating to the production, sale and use of certain agricultural products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). HB 1874 was referred to the House Environmental Regulation Committee; SB 886 was referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
- HB 2840 filed by Rep. Joanne Shofner (R-Nacogdoches) relating to the labeling of products as milk and milk products. It was referred to the Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Committee on March 19.
- SB 119 by Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) relating to required labeling of food containing mRNA vaccine material. It was left pending in the Senate Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee following a public hearing on March 31.
89TH LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES
- May 12: Last day for House committees to report House Bills.
- May 15: Last day for House to consider 2nd reading House Bills on daily calendar.
- May 23: Last day for House to consider Local House Bills.
- May 24: Last day for House to report Senate bills and Senate Joint Resolutions.
- May 28: Last day for House to report local Senate bills and for Senate to consider all bills.
- June 2: 89th Legislative Session Ends, adjourns Sine Die.
- June 22: Last day for governor to sign or veto bills.
- June 23: Fundraising moratorium ends.
- Sept. 1: Effective date for most non-vetoed or signed bills.
