Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5339 Compare Versions

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1	1		By: Wilson H.B. No. 5339
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the advancing research for agricultural sustainability
7	9		and pesticide harm reduction in institutions of higher education.
8	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	11		SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
10	12		amended by adding Section 51.9015 to read as follows:
11	13		Sec. 51.9015. HIGHER EDUCATION AGRICULTURAL REGENERATIVE
12	14		AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) For the purposes of this section,
13	15		"regenerative agriculture" means the agricultural practices and
14	16		techniques that improve soil health, increase soil organic matter,
15	17		improve water infiltration and retention, and increase biological
16	18		diversity in agricultural systems. The practices and techniques
17	19		fall within one or more of the following principles:
18	20		(1) maintaining living roots within the soil;
19	21		(2) minimizing soil disturbance;
20	22		(3) maximizing diversity in the soil;
21	23		(4) protecting the soil surface;
22	24		(5) integrating livestock and poultry; and
23	25		(6) improving agricultural resilience and
24	26		restoration.
25	27		(b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
26	28		establish and administer the Higher Education Regenerative
27	29		Agriculture Grant Program to fund institutions of higher education
28	30		to:
29	31		(1) conduct research assessing the environmental,
30	32		mental, health, and ecological impacts of pesticide use within
31	33		Texas and beyond;
32	34		(2) develop innovative, evidence-based methods to
33	35		support agricultural producers in transitioning to organic and
34	36		pesticide-free farming practices; and
35	37		(3) provide education and technical assistance
36	38		programs focused on regenerative agriculture for students,
37	39		agricultural producers, and rural communities.
38	40		(b) Eligible institutions shall include all institutions of
39	41		higher education, as defined in Section 61.003, Education Code,
40	42		including non-land-grant universities and land-grant universities.
41	43		Priority shall be given to:
42	44		(1) non-land-grant universities conducting
43	45		community-centered outreach and applied research, including Texas
44	46		State University's Small Producers' Initiative; and
45	47		(2) institutions that demonstrate active partnerships
46	48		with agricultural producers and organizations to implement
47	49		regenerative farming practices; and
48	50		(3) institutions whose agricultural programs obtain
49	51		25% or less of their funding from companies that manufacture,
50	52		market, or sell synthetic pesticides.
51	53		(c) Grants awarded under the program may be used for the
52	54		following purposes:
53	55		(1) multi-year research projects focused on
54	56		transitioning agricultural producers from conventional pesticide
55	57		use to regenerative and organic farming systems;
56	58		(2) research on healthy soil practices, including
57	59		identifying the most practical and beneficial techniques for
58	60		achieving and maintaining soil health;
59	61		(3) university-led education and training programs
60	62		targeting agricultural producers, with an emphasis on small and
61	63		mid-sized farms;
62	64		(4) support for student-led projects, internships,
63	65		and research focused on regenerative agriculture and pesticide harm
64	66		reduction;
65	67		(5) development and distribution of digital and
66	68		physical educational resources for rural agricultural communities
67	69		and farming regions across Texas;
68	70		(6) collaborative research initiatives between higher
69	71		education institutions, nonprofits, and agricultural organizations
70	72		to pilot and test regenerative farming solutions;
71	73		(7) comprehensive research on all categories of
72	74		pesticides, including assessing their risks, sustainability, and
73	75		long-term impacts on ecosystems and public health in Texas,
74	76		including impacts on children living in rural communities and
75	77		farmers' health; and
76	78		(8) additional purposes explicitly approved by the
77	79		Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, following a thorough and
78	80		systematic review.
79	81		(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall:
80	82		(1) develop program guidelines and applications;
81	83		(2) provide technical assistance to institutions that
82	84		are applying for grants;
83	85		(3) conduct periodic reviews and site visits to ensure
84	86		proper use of funds and compliance with grant agreements.
85	87		Institutions found to misuse grant funds or fail to meet program
86	88		requirements shall be subject to the following consequences:
87	89		(A) suspension or termination of funding;
88	90		(B) disqualification from future grant cycles;
89	91		and
90	92		(C) repayment of misused funds;
91	93		(4) oversee the creation and maintenance of a
92	94		statewide online resource hub to share educational materials,
93	95		research findings, and best practices developed through the
94	96		program; and
95	97		(5) require annual progress reports from grant
96	98		recipients, including:
97	99		(A) research and education achievements related
98	100		to agricultural sustainability;
99	101		(B) measurable outcomes, such as the adoption of
100	102		organic farming practices or reductions in pesticide use by
101	103		producers; and
102	104		(C) financial documentation detailing the use of
103	105		awarded funds.
104	106		(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
105	107		Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall collaborate to:
106	108		(1) align grant-funded research with existing soil and
107	109		water conservation programs;
108	110		(2) ensure grant projects complement statewide
109	111		efforts to improve soil health and reduce pesticide usage; and
110	112		(3) facilitate partnerships between funded higher
111	113		education institutions and local soil and water conservation
112	114		districts.
113	115		(f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the
114	116		Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall jointly prepare
115	117		and submit an annual report to the legislature summarizing:
116	118		(1) the outcomes and impacts of the grant program,
117	119		which shall include both benefits, negatives, and other outcomes;
118	120		(2) the progress made in reducing pesticide use and
119	121		improving soil health; and
120	122		(3) the legislative recommendations to further
121	123		advance agricultural sustainability research, education, and
122	124		outreach in Texas, including recommendations.
123	125		SECTION 2. Section 51.9015, Education Code, as added by
124	126		this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year.
125	127		SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas Higher
126	128		Education Coordinating Board shall develop and make available on
127	129		the board's Internet website the form to apply for the grant, the
128	130		annual reports with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation
129	131		Board, including any guidelines, recommendations, and approvals.
130	132		SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
131	133		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
132	134		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
133	135		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
134	136		Act takes effect September 1, 2025.