BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1437 By: Gonzlez, Mary Agriculture & Livestock Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee of concerns over pollinator populations in Texas and that, while beekeepers are doing what they can to help maintain the bee population, there have been losses over the past few years. According to a Texas A&M Stories article, the Bee Informed Partnership's colony loss report showed that Texas experienced an annual loss of 33.9 percent in honey bee population from April 2021 to April 2022. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from April through June of 2022, 45.2 percent of honey bee colonies nationwide were reported to be affected by varroa mites. Currently, the state does not have a task force focused on this issue to provide aid or recommendations on how to protect the state's bee population. H.B. 1437 seeks to address this issue by requiring the governor to establish the task force on pollinator health to undertake activities to examine issues relevant to pollinator health. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1437 amends the Agriculture Code to require the governor to establish the task force on pollinator health to undertake activities to examine issues relevant to pollinator health, including the following: identifying ways the state can incentivize the development of new pollinator habitat in residential, commercial, and public areas; studying public education and outreach plans regarding pollinator health that have been successful in other states; investigating the means used by other states to gather data on populations of bees or other pollinating insects; and identifying ways to prevent loss of pollinator habitat. H.B. 1437 requires the governor to establish the task force's membership, which consists of members appointed by the governor, including the following: one member who is a university faculty member specializing in the science of pollinator health; one member representing an advocacy group for nurseries and greenhouse producers; one member representing an advocacy group for agriculture in Texas; one member representing an advocacy group dedicated to the protection of pollinators and invertebrates; one member representing an advocacy group for pesticide applicators; one member who is certified as a master gardener by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and who represents the public; one member who is a beekeeper and who represents the public; and one member who is an employee of the Parks and Wildlife Department who specializes in melittology. The bill requires the governor to appoint the task force members not later than October 1, 2025, and to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy on the task force. The bill authorizes the governor to provide staff support to the task force. The bill requires each state agency to assist the task force in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, furnish information and advice that the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties. H.B. 1437 authorizes the task force to take actions necessary and proper to carry out its work, including scheduling hearings and taking testimony on matters related to pollinator health. The bill establishes that a majority of the task force's members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business and that official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of its members. The bill requires the task force to elect one of its members to serve as presiding officer. The bill requires the task force to meet at times and places specified by the call of the presiding officer or of a majority of the task force's members. The bill authorizes the task force to adopt bylaws necessary for its operation. The bill establishes that task force members are not entitled to compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties in the manner and amounts provided for in the General Appropriations Act. The bill authorizes a task force member to participate remotely in a meeting of the task force by means of a video conference call or online service. H.B. 1437 requires the task force, not later than October 1, 2026, to submit a report, which may include recommendations for legislation, to the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over agriculture. The bill authorizes the task force to provide progress reports to those committees before October 1, 2026. The bill's provisions expire December 31, 2026. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1437
By: Gonzlez, Mary
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1437
By: Gonzlez, Mary
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee of concerns over pollinator populations in Texas and that, while beekeepers are doing what they can to help maintain the bee population, there have been losses over the past few years. According to a Texas A&M Stories article, the Bee Informed Partnership's colony loss report showed that Texas experienced an annual loss of 33.9 percent in honey bee population from April 2021 to April 2022. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from April through June of 2022, 45.2 percent of honey bee colonies nationwide were reported to be affected by varroa mites. Currently, the state does not have a task force focused on this issue to provide aid or recommendations on how to protect the state's bee population. H.B. 1437 seeks to address this issue by requiring the governor to establish the task force on pollinator health to undertake activities to examine issues relevant to pollinator health.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1437 amends the Agriculture Code to require the governor to establish the task force on pollinator health to undertake activities to examine issues relevant to pollinator health, including the following: identifying ways the state can incentivize the development of new pollinator habitat in residential, commercial, and public areas; studying public education and outreach plans regarding pollinator health that have been successful in other states; investigating the means used by other states to gather data on populations of bees or other pollinating insects; and identifying ways to prevent loss of pollinator habitat. H.B. 1437 requires the governor to establish the task force's membership, which consists of members appointed by the governor, including the following: one member who is a university faculty member specializing in the science of pollinator health; one member representing an advocacy group for nurseries and greenhouse producers; one member representing an advocacy group for agriculture in Texas; one member representing an advocacy group dedicated to the protection of pollinators and invertebrates; one member representing an advocacy group for pesticide applicators; one member who is certified as a master gardener by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and who represents the public; one member who is a beekeeper and who represents the public; and one member who is an employee of the Parks and Wildlife Department who specializes in melittology. The bill requires the governor to appoint the task force members not later than October 1, 2025, and to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy on the task force. The bill authorizes the governor to provide staff support to the task force. The bill requires each state agency to assist the task force in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, furnish information and advice that the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties. H.B. 1437 authorizes the task force to take actions necessary and proper to carry out its work, including scheduling hearings and taking testimony on matters related to pollinator health. The bill establishes that a majority of the task force's members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business and that official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of its members. The bill requires the task force to elect one of its members to serve as presiding officer. The bill requires the task force to meet at times and places specified by the call of the presiding officer or of a majority of the task force's members. The bill authorizes the task force to adopt bylaws necessary for its operation. The bill establishes that task force members are not entitled to compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties in the manner and amounts provided for in the General Appropriations Act. The bill authorizes a task force member to participate remotely in a meeting of the task force by means of a video conference call or online service. H.B. 1437 requires the task force, not later than October 1, 2026, to submit a report, which may include recommendations for legislation, to the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over agriculture. The bill authorizes the task force to provide progress reports to those committees before October 1, 2026. The bill's provisions expire December 31, 2026.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee of concerns over pollinator populations in Texas and that, while beekeepers are doing what they can to help maintain the bee population, there have been losses over the past few years. According to a Texas A&M Stories article, the Bee Informed Partnership's colony loss report showed that Texas experienced an annual loss of 33.9 percent in honey bee population from April 2021 to April 2022. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from April through June of 2022, 45.2 percent of honey bee colonies nationwide were reported to be affected by varroa mites. Currently, the state does not have a task force focused on this issue to provide aid or recommendations on how to protect the state's bee population. H.B. 1437 seeks to address this issue by requiring the governor to establish the task force on pollinator health to undertake activities to examine issues relevant to pollinator health.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1437 amends the Agriculture Code to require the governor to establish the task force on pollinator health to undertake activities to examine issues relevant to pollinator health, including the following:
identifying ways the state can incentivize the development of new pollinator habitat in residential, commercial, and public areas;
studying public education and outreach plans regarding pollinator health that have been successful in other states;
investigating the means used by other states to gather data on populations of bees or other pollinating insects; and
identifying ways to prevent loss of pollinator habitat.
H.B. 1437 requires the governor to establish the task force's membership, which consists of members appointed by the governor, including the following:
one member who is a university faculty member specializing in the science of pollinator health;
one member representing an advocacy group for nurseries and greenhouse producers;
one member representing an advocacy group for agriculture in Texas;
one member representing an advocacy group dedicated to the protection of pollinators and invertebrates;
one member representing an advocacy group for pesticide applicators;
one member who is certified as a master gardener by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and who represents the public;
one member who is a beekeeper and who represents the public; and
one member who is an employee of the Parks and Wildlife Department who specializes in melittology.
The bill requires the governor to appoint the task force members not later than October 1, 2025, and to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy on the task force. The bill authorizes the governor to provide staff support to the task force. The bill requires each state agency to assist the task force in the performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, furnish information and advice that the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties.
H.B. 1437 authorizes the task force to take actions necessary and proper to carry out its work, including scheduling hearings and taking testimony on matters related to pollinator health. The bill establishes that a majority of the task force's members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business and that official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of its members. The bill requires the task force to elect one of its members to serve as presiding officer. The bill requires the task force to meet at times and places specified by the call of the presiding officer or of a majority of the task force's members. The bill authorizes the task force to adopt bylaws necessary for its operation. The bill establishes that task force members are not entitled to compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties in the manner and amounts provided for in the General Appropriations Act. The bill authorizes a task force member to participate remotely in a meeting of the task force by means of a video conference call or online service.
H.B. 1437 requires the task force, not later than October 1, 2026, to submit a report, which may include recommendations for legislation, to the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over agriculture. The bill authorizes the task force to provide progress reports to those committees before October 1, 2026. The bill's provisions expire December 31, 2026.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.