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December 15, 2000

Board sets legislative priorities

The 77^th Legislature convenes on Jan. 9 and Texas Farm Bureau is ready. Thank you for all of your interest and efforts during the interim. We are proud of the organization's work in preparation for the upcoming session.

Our TFB policy development process and ultimate voting delegate approval of TFB policy earlier this month clarified or reaffirmed the policy desires of the organization. On Dec. 4, the TFB State Board of Directors approved the state legislative priorities for the 77^th Legislature. We're excited about the important work ahead of us.

The following legislative priorities are presented as a group and not by rank of individual priority status:

•Boll Weevil Funding—Obtain additional state funding for boll weevil eradication program.

•Public Land Acquisition—Oppose any effort on the part of any state agency to allow for a net increase in its public land holdings through purchase or easements.

•State Agricultural Policy—Amend the state Agriculture Code to provide for specific Agricultural Policy and its importance and recognition by the state.

•Water—Ensure the interest of agriculture and rural communities in water resources are protected, including the Rule of Capture.

•Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Sunset—Oppose outside appointments to the State Soil and Water Conservation Board and protect voluntary non-point source pollution programs for agriculture.

•Transportation—Protect the ability of farmers and ranchers to utilize state and county roads and bridges to transport agricultural products. Allow permitted overweight trucks to utilize weight-restricted roads and bridges when no other alternative route exists.

•TNRCC Sunset—Protect current agricultural industry provisions in the statutes, and protect agriculture's and rural communities' interests in water resources.

•Quail Decline Initiative—Obtain funding for bobwhite and blue quail recovery program proposed by Texas Cooperative Extension, including cost-share dollars for landowners.

•Ag Lien / Bankruptcy—Amend Texas law to adequately protect the interests of producers that deliver a commodity to an elevator or processor that declares bankruptcy.

•Farmland Preservation—Monitor efforts to prevent encroachment of farmland by urban developments.

•Election Code Amendment—Amend election law so state non-endorsed candidates do not require county meeting invitations. Current law requires an invitation be submitted to all state candidates regardless of endorsement, and therefore, penalizes candidates who have been endorsed by AGFUND.

•Railroad Rights-of-Way Revision—Provide that landowners with property adjacent to abandoned railroad rights-of-way have a right of first refusal or reversion.

• Brush Control Funding—Obtain state funding for a brush control cost-share program. Funds to be used on acreage that will most increase water quantity.

• Taxes—Retain all of agriculture's tax considerations.

• Public Utilities—Propose legislation providing additional individual access to the Public Utility Commission regulatory process. Seek additional protections for landowners providing utility rights-of-way.

• Franchise Tax—Exempt from state franchise tax all family corporations which derive more than 50 percent of their earned income from agricultural production.

• Dairy Demonstration Barn—Obtain funding for construction of Dairy Demonstration Barn at Tarle-ton State University.

• Texas Agricultural Finance Authority—Support continued efforts to make Young Farmer Loan Guarantee Program available for young producers for the benefit of Texas agriculture and support appropriate revisions of other TAFA programs to increase effectiveness.

We look forward to working and communicating with you as we set out to accomplish these important legislative priorities and all other TFB policy goals. Thank you for your interest and for being a Farm Bureau member. Together, we can make the difference in a successful 140 days in Austin.

The TFB Legislative staff in Austin may be reached at 512/472-8288.