By Jessica Domel
Field Editor

Sept. 1 may not mark the beginning of a new calendar year. But it does mark a new beginning for many Texas laws.

On that day, laws enacted by the legislature that were not vetoed by the governor or enacted immediately will take effect.

For farmers and ranchers, that means a few changes thanks to legislation like HB 200 by Rep. Jim Keffer and Sen. Charles Perry, which allows farmers to appeal water restrictions set by a groundwater conservation district.

“It’s going to make sure that any restrictions placed on the use of groundwater are based upon the best available science to justify the restrictions,” Billy Howe, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) state legislative director, said.

The bill allows anyone affected by a water decision to appeal the adoption of a groundwater conservation district’s Desired Future Condition (DFC) and whether or not that DFC places a reasonable limit on groundwater production in the area.

“It ensures the landowner or groundwater user a process to challenge whether or not the DFC is reasonable. That’s very important because the DFC basically sets the regulatory goals for the local groundwater district,” Howe said.

Water is a private property right. As such, protecting groundwater is one of the goals of a groundwater conservation district, according to the bill.

“If you want to have a say in how restricted you are and how much you can pump, you need to be able to have that opportunity to be involved in the DFC process and even appeal it,” Howe said.

Texas farmers will soon save money thanks to SB 140 by Sen. Perry and Rep. Tom Craddick. The law creates a sales tax exemption for GPS systems used for farming and ranching.

“They will no longer have the data service providers trying to access the sales tax. It lowers the tax burden for ag producers who use those services,” Howe said.

Changes were also made to the state Grain Producer Indemnity Board. Under SB 1099 by Sen. Craig Estes and Rep. Larry Phillips, the board can now purchase reinsurance as a risk management tool.

It also changes the number of votes required to create a grain indemnity fund from a two-thirds vote to a simple majority.

“That will give grain producers who would like to create a grain indemnity fund, a better chance to be able to create it,” Howe said.

Farmers who have grain at an elevator when it goes out of business will have additional protections thanks to another law that was brought to the chambers by Sen. Perry and Reps. Kyle Kacal and Dustin Burrows.

The law allows a farmer to have a lien that protects his/her crop when first delivered to a buyer. The farmer is still required to file a legal form protecting the lien.

Farmers and ranchers who use their land for businesses like hay mazes, pumpkin patches and other forms of agritourism will receive additional liability protection through a law originally presented by Sen. Perry and Rep. Andrew Murr.

These bills were passed with the help and support of TFB.

Each year, TFB’s state board sets priorities based on the policy that is set forth by members at the Annual Meeting.

These priorities are then worked on and carried out by TFB staff like Howe.

The board looks at the policy issues that they think could have the biggest impact on agriculture on a statewide basis. Those things tend to be prioritized first.

“After those big, statewide issues, they prioritize the issues that our volunteer leaders have brought forward that are important to them,
Howe said.