Category Archives: Texas Legislature

Overview of New State Laws: The 2023 Texas Legislative Session for Agriculture

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From property taxes to landowner liability, cell-cultured meat labeling to Right to Farm, the 2023 Texas Legislative Session included a number of new laws important for rural Texas landowners and agricultural producers. I recently wrote a paper explaining each of these laws for the State Bar of Texas John Huffaker Agricultural Law Continuing Legal Education course.  To read the paper, click here. Key bills of which Texas landowners and agricultural producers should be aware include: Texas Right to Farm statute amendments (HB 1750, HB 2308, HB 2947) –… Read More →

Statutory Amendments Offer Broader Liability Protection to Texas Landowners

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The Texas Legislature recently amended Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 75.006 to expand liability protections in situations when damages or injuries arise that are out of control of the agricultural landowner or lessee.  The statute is titled “Certain Liability Limited in Connection with Livestock or Agricultural Land” and the amendments are found in HB 73. Prior Version Previously, Section 75.006 provided protection to landowners in certain scenarios.  First, landowners were not liable for damages arising from an incident caused by livestock due to the act or… Read More →

August 11, 2023 Weekly Round Up

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It has been an unbelievably busy week around here, I bet the same is true for many of you.  Welcome to those of you joining from the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course and the Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems Conference.  Here are some ag law stories recently in the news. * Podcast episode recapping Texas Legislative Session for agriculture.  Yesterday, we released a podcast episode with J. Pete Laney recapping the 88th Texas Legislative Session and the key bills related to agriculture.  It’s become a tradition for… Read More →

Significant Changes Coming to Texas Right to Farm Statute

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As of September 1, 2023, there will be significant changes in store for the Texas Right to Farm statute.  The Texas Legislature passed, and Governor Abbott signed, HB 1750, HB 2308 and HB 2947, each revising the statute offering important protections to Texas rural landowners, lessees, and agricultural operators.  We have prepared a document showing the text of the Texas Right to Farm Statute as of September 1. To read a full summary of the Texas Right to Farm statute, click here. Background The Texas Right to Farm… Read More →

December 2, 2022 Weekly Round Up

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Happy December! We are back with a number of updates for you with regard to agricultural law news around the country. *Lesser prairie chicken listed under Endangered Species Act.  On November 17, the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a press release that it will be listing the lesser prairie chicken as threatened in the northern distinct population segment (including areas in southeastern Colorado, southcentral and western Kansas, western Oklahoma, and the northeastern Texas Panhandle.) and endangered in the southern distinct population segment (including areas in eastern New… Read More →

2021 Year in Review – Texas

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2021 was another big year in the agricultural law world here in Texas.  From key legal decisions to new laws passed during the legislative session, there was no shortage of information to discuss in this year in review.  As you will see, many of the key updates involve actions taken by the Texas Legislature.  To read in more detail about the key bills for agriculture this session, click here to read a blog post and here to listen to a podcast episode with J Pete Laney. Texas Farm… Read More →

2021 Texas Legislative Recap – Key Bills for Agriculture

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As we do after every Texas Legislative Session, we’re here with a recap of the 87th Texas Legislature and the bills impacting agriculture.  As you will see, it was a busy session with a number of ag-related bills being passed.  We have linked each bill below to allow easy access to the full text. Also, as has become tradition, J Pete Laney joined me on the Ag Law in the Field Podcast to discuss these bills and give us his thoughts from someone involved on the ground with… Read More →

Amendments to Texas Farm Animal Liability Act Effective September 1

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The Texas Legislature has passed and Governor Abbott has signed House Bill 365, which will make important changes to the Texas Farm Animal Liability Act (FALA). All farm animal owners should pay careful attention to the changes coming to the FALA, which will modify the scope of application and will also require additional steps be taken by farm animal owners. Background  The Texas Farm Animal Liability Act is a statute offering limited liability to farm animal owners if injuries are caused by an inherent risk to a farm… Read More →

TX House Bill to Modify Farm Animal Liability Act Unanimous Out of Committee

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A bill that would seek to essentially undo a 2020 Texas Supreme Court decision limiting the scope of the Texas Farm Animal Liability Act (FALA) has been unanimously passed out of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee.  For farmers and ranchers, this is an important issue as it relates to their legal protection from liability for injuries caused by horses or livestock. Statutory Background The Texas Equine Act was passed in 1995.  The scope of the statute was amended in 2011 to expand the scope of the… Read More →

March 12, 2021 Weekly Round Up

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Happy Friday!  We’re back with some more of the ag law stories in the news over the past couple of weeks. * Bill would modify Texas Farm Animal Liability Act to ensure applicability to working ranches.  You may remember last year that the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in Waak v. Zuniga holding that the Texas Farm Animal Liability Act does not apply if the injured party is a rancher or ranch hand. [Read prior post here.]  There are a couple of bills in the Texas Legislature seeking… Read More →