By: Wilson H.B. No. 5339
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the advancing research for agricultural sustainability
and pesticide harm reduction in institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.9015 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.9015. HIGHER EDUCATION AGRICULTURAL REGENERATIVE
AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) For the purposes of this section,
"regenerative agriculture" means the agricultural practices and
techniques that improve soil health, increase soil organic matter,
improve water infiltration and retention, and increase biological
diversity in agricultural systems. The practices and techniques
fall within one or more of the following principles:
(1) maintaining living roots within the soil;
(2) minimizing soil disturbance;
(3) maximizing diversity in the soil;
(4) protecting the soil surface;
(5) integrating livestock and poultry; and
(6) improving agricultural resilience and
restoration.
(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
establish and administer the Higher Education Regenerative
Agriculture Grant Program to fund institutions of higher education
to:
(1) conduct research assessing the environmental,
mental, health, and ecological impacts of pesticide use within
Texas and beyond;
(2) develop innovative, evidence-based methods to
support agricultural producers in transitioning to organic and
pesticide-free farming practices; and
(3) provide education and technical assistance
programs focused on regenerative agriculture for students,
agricultural producers, and rural communities.
(b) Eligible institutions shall include all institutions of
higher education, as defined in Section 61.003, Education Code,
including non-land-grant universities and land-grant universities.
Priority shall be given to:
(1) non-land-grant universities conducting
community-centered outreach and applied research, including Texas
State University's Small Producers' Initiative; and
(2) institutions that demonstrate active partnerships
with agricultural producers and organizations to implement
regenerative farming practices; and
(3) institutions whose agricultural programs obtain
25% or less of their funding from companies that manufacture,
market, or sell synthetic pesticides.
(c) Grants awarded under the program may be used for the
following purposes:
(1) multi-year research projects focused on
transitioning agricultural producers from conventional pesticide
use to regenerative and organic farming systems;
(2) research on healthy soil practices, including
identifying the most practical and beneficial techniques for
achieving and maintaining soil health;
(3) university-led education and training programs
targeting agricultural producers, with an emphasis on small and
mid-sized farms;
(4) support for student-led projects, internships,
and research focused on regenerative agriculture and pesticide harm
reduction;
(5) development and distribution of digital and
physical educational resources for rural agricultural communities
and farming regions across Texas;
(6) collaborative research initiatives between higher
education institutions, nonprofits, and agricultural organizations
to pilot and test regenerative farming solutions;
(7) comprehensive research on all categories of
pesticides, including assessing their risks, sustainability, and
long-term impacts on ecosystems and public health in Texas,
including impacts on children living in rural communities and
farmers' health; and
(8) additional purposes explicitly approved by the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, following a thorough and
systematic review.
(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall:
(1) develop program guidelines and applications;
(2) provide technical assistance to institutions that
are applying for grants;
(3) conduct periodic reviews and site visits to ensure
proper use of funds and compliance with grant agreements.
Institutions found to misuse grant funds or fail to meet program
requirements shall be subject to the following consequences:
(A) suspension or termination of funding;
(B) disqualification from future grant cycles;
and
(C) repayment of misused funds;
(4) oversee the creation and maintenance of a
statewide online resource hub to share educational materials,
research findings, and best practices developed through the
program; and
(5) require annual progress reports from grant
recipients, including:
(A) research and education achievements related
to agricultural sustainability;
(B) measurable outcomes, such as the adoption of
organic farming practices or reductions in pesticide use by
producers; and
(C) financial documentation detailing the use of
awarded funds.
(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall collaborate to:
(1) align grant-funded research with existing soil and
water conservation programs;
(2) ensure grant projects complement statewide
efforts to improve soil health and reduce pesticide usage; and
(3) facilitate partnerships between funded higher
education institutions and local soil and water conservation
districts.
(f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall jointly prepare
and submit an annual report to the legislature summarizing:
(1) the outcomes and impacts of the grant program,
which shall include both benefits, negatives, and other outcomes;
(2) the progress made in reducing pesticide use and
improving soil health; and
(3) the legislative recommendations to further
advance agricultural sustainability research, education, and
outreach in Texas, including recommendations.
SECTION 2. Section 51.9015, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall develop and make available on
the board's Internet website the form to apply for the grant, the
annual reports with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation
Board, including any guidelines, recommendations, and approvals.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.