February 4, 2000

House Speaker Pete Laney has directed House committees to begin studies on a wide range of issues that state lawmakers will address in the 2001 regular session.

For Texas Farm Bureau, the interim work of several committees will be of special interest. The following are charges of various committees.

• Examine regulations imposed on agricultural operations by different state and federal agencies to identify any conflicts. Identify instances where state regulations are more stringent than federal regulations for the same program.

• Examine the feasibility of agricultural producers voluntarily constituting agricultural development districts as a means of sharing the benefits of value-added processing.

• Compile an inventory of agricultural research currently underway and recently completed. Assess the economic benefits of the research, identify any duplication, and consider ways to coordinate or more effectively focus research efforts.

• Examine and evaluate programs in other states designed to preserve farmland, especially in proximity to metropolitan areas.

• Study the ability of counties to provide for appropriate growth and development in unincorporated areas while balancing private property rights.

• Study all issues related to groundwater availability, including the role and needs of groundwater conservation districts to ensure effective management of the resource. Consider the effectiveness and feasibility of aquifer-based management, and the adequacy of data and modeling for regional water planning efforts.

• Assess the condition of abandoned or deteriorated water wells and the need for state and local involvement to address potential problems.

• Study the state’s criteria and regulations for determining the potential sites for wetlands mitigation efforts.

• Evaluate the need for hunting license exemptions for wildlife that pose an imminent threat to personal property or human health and safety.

• Study the management of state wildlife on private property.

• Study ways the state and counties can ensure a safe, adequately funded county road and bridge system consistent with encouraging commerce and economic growth.

• Identify and list the specific changes to the tax structure that would most benefit troubled or declining industries, such as agriculture or oil production.

• Study rural industries, transportation, environmental and natural resources, health and human needs, housing and other issues that affect the lives of rural Texans.

• Develop plans to improve/maintain the economic, social and cultural life of rural Texans.

Our organization will be monitoring the interim work of each of the committees and presenting testimony, where appropriate. A joint Senate/House committee on HB 2 (state agricultural policy) had not been announced at press time.

We will report on some of the interesting findings and discussion in the these Senate and House interim committee hearings in future columns.

For a complete schedule of upcoming Senate and House interim committee hearings that are of importance to agriculture, please log on to the Legislative Updates page on our TFB web site at www.txfb.org or call us here in Austin at (512) 472-8288 for information.