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February 15, 2002

Texas House, Senate voting records

Voting records for the Texas 77th Legislature are based on the following issues in the Texas House and Senate. The percentage shown on the charts is the percent favorable vote with Farm Bureau.

Texas Senate

1. Rural Health: The Senate approved SB 126 by Madla that established the Rural Communities Health Care Investment Program to attract and retain rural health care professionals. The bill provides the opportunity for incentives to be awarded to professionals who are interested in working in a rural area, but cannot afford the expense of relocation or of starting a new career. Passed 30-0. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

2. Agricultural Policy: The Senate approved SB 331 by Haywood that established specific agricultural policy guidelines for the state to pursue in the future. There are 16 agricultural policy statements contained in the bill. The statements do not have the force of law, but instead, the guidelines serve as goals for future state programs in order to keep agriculture profitable, competitive and vital. Passed 26-4. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

3. Water Resources: The Senate approved Amendment No. 4 by Duncan to SB 2 that pertains to the development and management of the water resources of the state. Amendment No. 4 puts agricultural surface water use second in priority. Previously, agricultural use was third in priority. Passed 20-8. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

4. Water Resources: The Senate also approved Amendment No. 5 by Bivins to SB 2. Amendment No. 5 allows a groundwater district to restrict the export of groundwater to protect use within the district. Passed 15-13. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

5. Surplus Commodities: The Senate approved HB 1086 by Solis that requires the Department of Agriculture to develop a program to award funds to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of collecting and distributing surplus agricultural products to food banks and other charitable organizations. Passed 29-0. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

6. TNRCC: The Senate tabled (rejected) Amendment No. 19 by Bernsen to HB 2912 that authorized the continuation of the TNRCC. Amendment No. 19 would have struck the consideration of economic impacts in the permitting process at TNRCC. Permitting decisions would have been based solely on environmental concerns. Tabled 21-6. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

7. Agricultural Operations: The Senate approved HB 1514 by Junell that would have protected established commercial businesses from complaints by citizens who move into the area after the business had established its operations. The bill was important to commercial agricultural businesses in areas of the state that were not residential when the business was established. The bill would have only affected a business' right to continue the operation that was in place at the time the residents moved in, as long as the business did not change its mode of operation substantially. Approved 30-0, vetoed by Governor. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

8. Cuba Trade: The Senate approved SCR 54 by Bernsen that would have urged Congress to consider the removal of trade, financial, and travel restrictions relating to Cuba. Approved 18-9, vetoed by Governor. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

9. Agricultural Development: The Senate approved HB 1880 by Swinford that authorizes county commissioners to create Ag Development Districts with a goal of enabling agricultural producers to process their own products locally. The districts will be exempt from property and sales taxes and provide a mechanism for producers to acquire capital to build value-added processing facilities. Approved 27-3. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

Texas House

1. Water Resources: The House approved HB 1629 by Cook that allows the LCRA to sell water outside its service area, if the water is storm run-off stored in an off-channel reservoir. The legislation prohibits LCRA from selling groundwater outside its service area. Approved 144-0. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

2. Agricultural Policy: The House approved SB 331 by Haywood that established specific agricultural policy guidelines for the state to pursue in the future. There are 16 agricultural policy statements contained in the bill. The statements do not have the force of law, but instead, the guidelines serve as goals for future state programs in order to keep agriculture profitable, competitive and vital. Approved 139-0. Farm Bureau supported "yes" vote.

3. Go Texan: The House approved SB 571 by Lucio that made changes to the Texas Department of Agri-culture's "Go Texan" program to increase its flexibility and effectiveness. Among the changes, the bill expanded the program's purpose to include the marketing of agricultural products grown or processed in the state. Previously, the "Go Texan" program only addressed the "promotion" of agricultural products grown in the state. Approved 145-0. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

4. Private Roads: The House approved HB 340 by Keffer that would have allowed county governments to claim a private road that it had been maintaining, utilizing a new procedure.

Current law allows a county to acquire a private road by purchase, condemnation, dedication, or a court's final judgment. Approved 95-37, died in Senate. Farm Bureau supported a "no" vote.

5. Agricultural Development: The House approved HB 1880 by Swinford that authorizes county commissioners to create Agricultural Development Districts with a goal of enabling agricultural producers to process their own products locally. The districts will provide a mechanism for producers to acquire capital to build value-added processing facilities. Approved 134-0. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

6. Water Resources: The House refused to table (approved) an Amendment by Craddick to SB 2 that pertains to the development and management of the water resources of the state. The amendment allows the cities of Midland and Abilene to operate their groundwater well fields, which are located in rural counties, without being regulated by a groundwater conservation district. This includes removing the ability of a district to regulate the export of groundwater from the rural county to the city. Motion to table rejected 53-91. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.

7. TNRCC: The House approved the conference report on HB 2912 by Bosse that authorized the continuation of the TNRCC. The legislation did not significantly alter the statewide authority impacting agriculture. The bill did place additional water quality requirements on permitted dairies in the North Bosque River Watershed. Approved 100-42. Farm Bureau supported a "yes" vote.