By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

State lawmakers are once again working to strengthen agricultural protections in Texas with HB 1964, a new measure aimed at ensuring municipalities comply with the recently passed right to farm and ranch legislation.

In 2023, voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 1, the right to farm and ranch constitutional amendment. It was intended to prevent cities and local governments from imposing unnecessary and restrictive regulations on agriculture.

However, farmers and ranchers continue to report issues with municipalities infringing on their rights to carry out agricultural practices.

“We are hearing of cities that are still enforcing ordinances that ban the use of barbed wire, prohibit livestock in the city limits, telling farmers and ranchers they can’t utilize their own land within 50 or 100 feet of their own property line,” Charlie Leal, TFB state legislative director, said. “We even have some cities that banned the public mating of livestock, requiring those farmers and ranchers to build a barn to block the public view at considerable expense.”

HB 1964, filed by State Rep. David Spiller of Jacksboro, would implement attorney fee provisions in the right to farm and ranch statute, allowing farmers and ranchers to recover their legal fees when they are required to sue a city under Chapter 251 of the Texas Agriculture Code.

“The bill builds on previous legislative efforts to strengthen Texas’ right to farm protections,” Leal said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1750, HB 2308 and HB 2947, which expanded protections for farmers and ranchers and limited certain local regulations. This legislation will provide the necessary tools and support for farmers and ranchers to stand up against these regulatory actions that may threaten their livelihood.”

SB 1035 is the companion bill filed in the Senate by Rep. Kevin Sparks.

Click here for more on TFB’s priority issues this legislative session.

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To help ensure passage of this legislation to protect farmers and ranchers, TFB needs your help. If your city isn’t complying with the right to farm law, contact Leal at cleal@txfb.org. Your stories are needed to show the Texas Legislature this legislation is needed.