Relating to protections provided by the Department of Agriculture for certain consumers; providing penalties.
Impact
The bill's amendments directly impact the regulations governing the operation and inspection of pumps, scales, and other measuring devices critical for ensuring accurate transactions in fuel sales. By reinforcing standards and imposing stricter compliance requirements, SB2089 aims to foster a more equitable marketplace. Additionally, the inclusion of testing provisions facilitates greater oversight of motor fuels, ensuring they meet federally defined quality standards, potentially benefiting both consumers and regulatory agencies tasked with enforcement.
Summary
Senate Bill 2089 aims to enhance consumer protections concerning motor fuels by updating various provisions in the Agriculture Code. Specifically, the bill modifies definitions, penalties for violations, and the inspection processes for weights and measures used in commercial transactions. One of the key changes is increasing the maximum civil penalty for violations from $500 to $10,000, significantly heightening the consequences for non-compliance. The bill empowers inspectors with greater authority to test and seize products that do not meet legal standards, thus strengthening the framework for maintaining fairness in consumer transactions regarding fuel and other commodities.
Contention
While the intent of SB2089 is to protect consumers, there are potential points of contention regarding the implications of heightened penalties and expanded inspector powers. Some stakeholders might argue that the increased penalties could place an undue burden on small businesses operating in the fuel industry, potentially driving up consumer prices as businesses may pass on compliance costs. Furthermore, the broad enforcement language could lead to disputes regarding the interpretation of standards and the rights of business operators when it comes to inspections and the testing of their products.
Relating to state and municipal motor fuel taxes; providing civil penalties; creating criminal offenses; requiring occupational licenses; authorizing the imposition of taxes; providing for increases and decreases in the rates of taxes.
Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products and the local regulation of cannabis establishments; providing for expunction of records relating to certain decriminalized conduct; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a tax.
Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, delivery, sale, and research of medical cannabis for medical use by patients with certain medical conditions and the licensing of medical cannabis organizations; authorizing fees.
Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; providing an administrative penalty; requiring a permit to conduct certain research involving hemp; authorizing a fee; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to the transfer of the regulation of motor fuel metering and motor fuel quality from the Department of Agriculture to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; providing civil and administrative penalties; creating criminal offenses; requiring occupational licenses; authorizing fees.
Relating to the transfer of the regulation of motor fuel metering and motor fuel quality from the Department of Agriculture to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; providing civil and administrative penalties; creating criminal offenses; requiring occupational licenses; authorizing fees.