Ag Law in the Field Episode #159: J.Pete Laney (2023 Texas Legislative Session Recap)
Our friend J Pete Laney is back for a Texas Legislature Recap which has become a tradition. J Pete and I talk through several key bills related Texas Agriculture as well as some bills that did not pass. It's always fun to chat with J Pete and get his on-the-ground knowledge about what's going on in Austin.
Contact Info for J Pete Laney
(website) http://www.jpetelaneylaw.com/
(phone) 512-473-0404
Links to Topics Mentioned on the Show
Right to Farm Statute - Blog Post
Amendments to the Right to Farm Statute
Constitutional Amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management
Relating to limitation of certain liability of owners, lessees, and occupants of land in connection with livestock and agricultural land
A program to compensate landowners for property damage caused by certain criminal activities
Labeling of analogue and cell-cultured products
Use of certain weapons in or on the bed or bank of a navigable river or stream; providing a penalty
Eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following a transfer to a surviving spouse
Late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following the death of the owner of the land
Burden of proof in certain ad valorem tax appeals
Creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees
Bills that did NOT pass
Purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities
Prohibiting contracts or other agreements with certain foreign-owned companies in connection with agricultural land
Certain property interests of a foreign government in agricultural land
Permitting of renewable energy generation facilities by the Public Utility Commission of Texas; authorizing fees
Ownership of the pore space underlying the surface of land and to the use of that space for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide; authorizing a fee
Criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit
Requiring state contractors, political subdivisions of this state, and private employers to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify