| 1 | 1 | | H.B. No. 2271 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to the protection of aquaculture operations. |
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| 6 | 6 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 7 | 7 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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| 8 | 8 | | adding Section 2.007 to read as follows: |
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| 9 | 9 | | Sec. 2.007. POLICY: AQUACULTURE. (a) In this section, |
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| 10 | 10 | | "aquaculture" has the meaning assigned by Section 134.001. |
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| 11 | 11 | | (b) The agricultural policy of this state must recognize |
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| 12 | 12 | | that aquaculture is a type of agriculture and must be awarded the |
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| 13 | 13 | | same rights, privileges, and protections as any other type of |
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| 14 | 14 | | agricultural operation. |
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| 15 | 15 | | SECTION 2. Section 134.001(1), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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| 16 | 16 | | to read as follows: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) "Cultured species" means aquatic animals or plants |
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| 18 | 18 | | raised under conditions where at least a portion of their life cycle |
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| 19 | 19 | | is controlled by an aquaculturist. |
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| 20 | 20 | | SECTION 3. Section 251.002(1), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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| 21 | 21 | | to read as follows: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) "Agricultural operation" includes the following |
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| 23 | 23 | | activities: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (A) cultivating the soil; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (B) producing crops for human food, animal feed, |
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| 26 | 26 | | planting seed, or fiber; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (C) floriculture; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (D) viticulture; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (E) horticulture; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (F) silviculture; |
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| 31 | 31 | | (G) wildlife management; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (H) raising or keeping livestock or poultry; |
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| 33 | 33 | | [and] |
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| 34 | 34 | | (I) planting cover crops or leaving land idle for |
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| 35 | 35 | | the purpose of participating in any governmental program or normal |
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| 36 | 36 | | crop or livestock rotation procedure; and |
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| 37 | 37 | | (J) aquaculture. |
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| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 39 | 39 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 40 | 40 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 42 | 42 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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| 43 | 43 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 45 | 45 | | I certify that H.B. No. 2271 was passed by the House on May 3, |
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| 46 | 46 | | 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 3, 1 present, not |
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| 47 | 47 | | voting. |
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| 48 | 48 | | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 50 | 50 | | I certify that H.B. No. 2271 was passed by the Senate on May |
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| 51 | 51 | | 16, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 54 | 54 | | APPROVED: _____________________ |
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| 55 | 55 | | Date |
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| 56 | 56 | | _____________________ |
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| 57 | 57 | | Governor |
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