BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2669 By: Guerra Agriculture & Livestock Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee of unfortunate incidences in which livestock eat balloons or other plastic that ends up in their grazing pasture, which can lead to death or injury of livestock and thus a financial burden for ranchers. Currently, there are no requirements under state law to gather statistics on this issue to evaluate the problem or offer solutions. According to data from the University of Arkansas, the value of agriculture production in Texas represented 1.7 percent of the state's GDP in 2022, making this an economic issue. H.B. 2669 seeks to resolve the issue and reduce economic burdens on ranchers by providing for a reporting system and education outreach program regarding the dangers of balloons to livestock. 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. 2669 amends the Education Code to require the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to do the following: establish a system for ranchers to report instances of balloons on the ranchers' property and of livestock that have died from eating a balloon; develop and implement an outreach program to inform ranchers of the reporting system and to inform people about the dangers of releasing balloons to the environment; and prepare an annual report based on the results of the reports made under the system and submit the report to the legislature not later than January 1. The bill establishes that the report may contain recommendations for actions for deterring the release of balloons. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2669
By: Guerra
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2669
By: Guerra
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee of unfortunate incidences in which livestock eat balloons or other plastic that ends up in their grazing pasture, which can lead to death or injury of livestock and thus a financial burden for ranchers. Currently, there are no requirements under state law to gather statistics on this issue to evaluate the problem or offer solutions. According to data from the University of Arkansas, the value of agriculture production in Texas represented 1.7 percent of the state's GDP in 2022, making this an economic issue. H.B. 2669 seeks to resolve the issue and reduce economic burdens on ranchers by providing for a reporting system and education outreach program regarding the dangers of balloons to livestock.
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. 2669 amends the Education Code to require the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to do the following: establish a system for ranchers to report instances of balloons on the ranchers' property and of livestock that have died from eating a balloon; develop and implement an outreach program to inform ranchers of the reporting system and to inform people about the dangers of releasing balloons to the environment; and prepare an annual report based on the results of the reports made under the system and submit the report to the legislature not later than January 1. The bill establishes that the report may contain recommendations for actions for deterring the release of balloons.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee of unfortunate incidences in which livestock eat balloons or other plastic that ends up in their grazing pasture, which can lead to death or injury of livestock and thus a financial burden for ranchers. Currently, there are no requirements under state law to gather statistics on this issue to evaluate the problem or offer solutions. According to data from the University of Arkansas, the value of agriculture production in Texas represented 1.7 percent of the state's GDP in 2022, making this an economic issue. H.B. 2669 seeks to resolve the issue and reduce economic burdens on ranchers by providing for a reporting system and education outreach program regarding the dangers of balloons to livestock.
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. 2669 amends the Education Code to require the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to do the following:
establish a system for ranchers to report instances of balloons on the ranchers' property and of livestock that have died from eating a balloon;
develop and implement an outreach program to inform ranchers of the reporting system and to inform people about the dangers of releasing balloons to the environment; and
prepare an annual report based on the results of the reports made under the system and submit the report to the legislature not later than January 1.
The bill establishes that the report may contain recommendations for actions for deterring the release of balloons.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.