ISSUES AND POLICY
TSCRA Member Interests Well-Represented in 83rd Legislature
By Jason Skaggs, TSCRA executive director of government and public affairs
T
HE REGULAR SESSION OF THE 83RD Texas Legislature wrapped up in late May. Leaders and
volunteers with Texas and South- western Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) worked hard to make sure member concerns and inter- ests were heard at the State Capitol. TSCRA members can be proud of their efforts this legislative session. While major priorities such as
water and the state budget were in the spotlight, there were many other issues important to ranchers and landowners that weren’t in the spotlight. TSCRA was busy on all fronts, no matter the size or scope of the issue. Here is a summary of some of the
biggest issues for TSCRA members from the session.
Pipeline legislation There were many attempts by
pipeline companies to create a more thorough process for them to obtain common carrier status, and thus the power of eminent domain. Some of these proposals would have taken away the legal rights of landowners. TSCRA leaders were not both-
ered by the idea of creating a better process. They were concerned that landowner rights were not recog- nized in the proposed processes. Pipeline companies wanted a
62 The Cattleman July 2013
process that didn’t give adequate notice to landowners, which in turn didn’t give landowners enough time to challenge or protest a pipeline company’s common carrier applica- tion. These proposals didn’t allow for a meaningful hearing where evidence could be thoroughly ex- amined. The proposals severely limited landowners’ legal rights if landowners decided to pursue the issue in court. Most versions of this legislation
did not favor landowners, which is why TSCRA leaders and volunteers fought hard against them. In the end, legislation on this matter did not pass.
Water As expected, water was a big is-
sue. Water legislation was passed in several parts, but overall the mea- sures make up one of the largest water policy and funding overhauls in recent memory. TSCRA leaders supported House
Bill (HB) 4 by Rep. Allan Ritter and Sen. Troy Fraser. HB 4 establishes how water projects in Texas will be prioritized for funding by re- gional water planning groups and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Volunteers worked hard to make
sure this legislation provided pri- orities to be placed on rural and agricultural conservation projects. The Legislature also passed Sen-
ate Joint Resolution 1 by Rep. Jim Pitts and Sen. Tommy Williams, which will allow Texas voters to
decide whether to create a new state water fund to help fi nance water projects over the next 50 years. Specifi cally, this proposed con-
stitutional amendment would pro- vide for the creation of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the State Water Imple- mentation Revenue Fund for Texas to assist in the fi nancing of priority projects in the state water plan to ensure the availability of adequate water resources. This vote will happen in Novem-
ber and TSCRA leaders will encour- age association members to vote in favor of the proposition.
Animal disease traceability TSCRA and other livestock
groups led an effort to pass House Bill 2311 by Rep. Kyle Kacal and Sen. Charles Schwertner, which limits the state’s ability to impose state animal disease traceability regulations that are more stringent than federal regulations, unless they receive a two-thirds vote of the Tex- as Animal Health Commissioners.
Fever ticks TSCRA supported HB 1807/Sen-
ate Bill (SB) 1095 by Rep. Tracy King and Sen. Chuy Hinojosa to help improve the control of fever ticks. This legislation allows the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to authorize the use of procedures and practices other than dipping to prevent, control and eradicate fever ticks. This legislation also clarifi es that
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