House Land & Resource Management Committee hearing Monday, March 28

TLC opposed HB 3190 by Oliveira and supported HB 3534 and HB 3535 by Kleinschmidt at the House Land & Resource Management Committee hearing yesterday at the Capitol.  HB 3190 would authorize counties and cities to regulate land development and provide a penalty for noncompliance.  HB 3534 and HB 3535 would penalize political subdivisions for violating laws relating to permits.

Senate Ag Hearing Monday, March 23rd

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee has scheduled SB 682 by Eltife for public hearing on Monday, March 23rd at 3 pm in E1.012 at the Capitol. TLC will testify in support of this bill, which would keep USDA's National Animal Identification System (NAIS) voluntary in Texas until it becomes mandatory at the federal level and would also allow participants to withdraw from the program at any time.

SB 682's companion in the House, HB 3322 by Kleinschmidt, has been referred to the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Fighting the Good Fight Against NAIS

TLC, along with 59 other organizations, has signed on to letters to the US Senate and the Obama Administration written by Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Executive Director Judith McGeary. These letters voice opposition to USDA's National Animal Identification System (NAIS) that threatens to bankrupt small farm and ranching operations throughout the US.

Today the US House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry held a hearing on "animal identification programs." This subcommittee has two members from Texas: K. Michael Conaway (202-225-3605 or 866-882-3811) and Randy Neugebauer, Ranking Minority Member (202-225-4005 or 888-763-1611). TLC has active members who own land in both US Representatives' districts.

At the Texas Legislature, TLC supports SB 682 by Eltife and its companion HB 3322 by Kleinschmidt, which would keep NAIS voluntary in Texas and allow participants to opt out at any time.