| 1 | 1 | | By: Virdell H.B. No. 1374 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 7 | 7 | | AN ACT |
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| 8 | 8 | | relating to the labeling of beef, pork, beef products, and pork |
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| 9 | 9 | | products; providing a civil penalty. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 431, Health and Safety |
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| 12 | 12 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 431.085 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 431.085. REQUIRED LABELING OF BEEF, PORK, BEEF |
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| 14 | 14 | | PRODUCTS, AND PORK PRODUCTS; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A retailer of |
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| 15 | 15 | | beef, pork, or a beef or pork product shall affix a label to the |
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| 16 | 16 | | container of the meat or product designating the country of origin |
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| 17 | 17 | | of the meat or of the meat used to make the product. If any |
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| 18 | 18 | | unwrapped or unpackaged beef, pork, or beef or pork product is |
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| 19 | 19 | | displayed for sale, the retailer shall clearly label with the |
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| 20 | 20 | | country of origin the display case or container in which the meat or |
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| 21 | 21 | | product is displayed. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (b) A retailer who violates Subsection (a) is liable to this |
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| 23 | 23 | | state for a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the violation |
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| 24 | 24 | | continues. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (c) The attorney general may sue to collect a civil penalty |
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| 26 | 26 | | under this section and may recover reasonable expenses incurred in |
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| 27 | 27 | | obtaining the penalty, including investigative costs, court costs, |
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| 28 | 28 | | reasonable attorney's fees, witness fees, and deposition expenses. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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