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Texas Agriculture Archive

July 4, 2003

Taking on the tough issues

 

Most freshman legislators take it easy their first session and learn the landscape. But, when you're a 10-year veteran of the Texas House, moving up to the Texas Senate doesn't mean you can coast. The tough issues tackled by Senator Kip Averitt showed that he understood the expectations of an experienced legislator.

Senator Averitt began this session by being appointed vice chair of the Business and Commerce Committee, and he received a rare appointment for a first-term senator to the Finance Committee. In fact, Finance Committee Chairman Teel Bivins made Averitt chair of the Natural Resources Work Group. While the work group was charged with finding ways to cut the budget of natural resource agencies, Senator Averitt made sure agriculture services did not suffer. He was even willing to take on the unpopular task of making changes to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Although opposed by Texas Farm Bureau, the changes were aimed at providing more efficient services to agriculture producers.

The rule of capture is near and dear to Texans. The 90-year-old law, created by the Texas Supreme Court, is protected with vigilance by our organization. It can, however, be snatched away by any court in Texas. To protect landowners' rights to their groundwater, Senator Averitt filed legislation that would have put the rule of capture into statute where it could only be changed by the legislature. The bill was unsuccessful, but we appreciate his efforts.

Senator Averitt was a good friend of our organization as a state representative. This session proved that he still is. It also proved that he is a legislator willing to fight on principle, not politics.
"Every interest group is actively involved in shaping public policy and promoting their issues. Farm Bureau has a valuable role to play. It's a tremendous grassroots organization of individuals involved in their community, in building their schools and their counties. And it is imperative that Farm Bureau members continue to take an active roll in shaping Texas public policy if we're going to have a state we can all be proud of."

—Sen. Todd Staples

Speaking up on property rights

Senator Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay stood up for Texas agriculture during the 78th Legislative Session. He served on key committees such as State Affairs and Natural Resources and Chaired the Business and Commerce committee. Senator Fraser was a spokesman for private property rights and an advocate for farmers and ranchers.

Senator Fraser championed SB 236 through the legislative process. This legislation allows landowners to kill feral hogs on their own property without having a hunting license. This is the third consecutive session for this bill to be filed at the behest of Texas Farm Bureau, and was finally passed, thanks to the efforts of Senator Fraser. This legislation will help far-mers and ranchers across the state who lose thousands of dollars worth of damage caused by feral hogs.

As chair of the Business and Commerce Committee, Senator Fraser was a leader on legislation that will reduce the cost of labor for agricultural employers. HB 1820 limits the amount of taxes an employer must pay after an immigrant, working in the U.S. on a H2-A visa, returns to his or her native country. Furthermore, HB 1819 limits the amount of taxes an employer pays after discharging an employee because of a disaster declared by the Governor. Both of these bills were supported by the Texas Farm Bureau.

Senator Fraser is no doubt a great advocate for farmers and ranchers and a very important ally for the Texas Farm Bureau.
"I think it's vitally important that groups like Farm Bureau continue to do what they've been doing in the past. Because I tell them in our weekly meeting, I tell them all the time it's 3, 37, and the associations. There are three of us that make 100 percent of our living from production agriculture left out of 181 members, there's 37 members of the rural caucus that actually live in rural Texas and don't live in a fast growth town, and then all the resources we have are our associations to get down there and work to accomplish issues."

—House Ag & Livestock Committee Chairman Rick Hardcastle