No less than 12 Senate & House bills mentioning honey bees or honey beekeeping are being considered by the 2021 Session of the Texas State Legislature. Some of the bills have more of a direct effect on beekeepers than others. LSBA is here to keep you informed of these considerations.
- Two joint bills stop municipalities and home owner associations from prohibiting single residential households from keeping no more than three hives in a backyard
- Four bills supported by both champers propose state wide standards for number of hives required to maintain real estate agricultural exemptions.
- Two joint bills create a criminal offense for stealing or harming maintained bees.
- Two joint bills limit beekeeper liabilities.
- Two unrelated but similar Senate Bills are related to creating pollinator health education and advisory boards.
Backyard Farming
Senate Bill 1062 and House Bill 1686 propose to remove local control of municipalities and home owner associations by not allowing them to adopt ordinances that prohibits the growing of fruits and vegetables; or the raising or keeping of six or fewer domestic fowl or rabbits or the raising of three or fewer beehives. Raising of roosters can still be prohibited.
SB 1062 / HB 1686
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB01062I.htm
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB01686I.htm
Agricultural Land Use Evaluation
Companion bills, SB 1994 & HB 4319 in addition to companion bills SB 1994 & HB 4319 propose to amend the tax and standardize the number of colonies required and the amount of time per year those colonies must be on site required to qualify land for agricultural use evaluation. It would unify that 6 colonies are required for the first 5 acres and 1 addition hive fore each additional 2.5 acres. Additionally, the bills standardize the amount of time the colonies must be on the land as 9 month each year.
SB 1994 / HB 4319
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB01994I.htm
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB04319I.htm
SB 1995 / HB 4320
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB01995I.htm
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB04320I.htm
Criminal offense for damaging managed colonies
SB 472 and HB 1480 would create criminal offenses and require restitution for damages to managed bee colonies in addition to other farming operations, crops and animals.
SB 472 / HB 1480
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB00472I.htm
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB01480H.htm
Limitations on Liabilities
HB 365 removes the beekeeper from liability personal injury or death to a participant in beekeeping activity. However, the companion bill, SB 1078, omits extending the liability limit to beekeepers. If these bills are to move forward, the bills would have to be reconciled in joint committee.
SB 1078 / HB 365
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB01078I.htm
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB00365E.htm
Pollinator Health and Education
SB 1128 proposes an educational task force be created and consulted with by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to develop educational materials regarding the best practices for avoiding adverse effects from pesticides on populations of bees and other pollinating insects.
SB 1128
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB01128I.htm
Solar Energy Farm Practices
SB 1772 would require that the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to establish and implement the Texas Pollinator-Smart program to encourage the voluntary establishment and conservation of habitats for bees, birds, and other pollinators in and near solar
SB 1772
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/SB01772I.htm
