Bill

HB 191

86(R) - 2019
House Agriculture & Livestock
Senate Water & Rural Affairs
House Agriculture & Livestock
Senate Water & Rural Affairs
Environment
Agriculture

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Phil Stephenson
Charles Anderson
Mary Gonzalez
Lynn Stucky

Sponsor(s)

Lois Kolkhorst

Bill Caption

Relating to the disposal of pesticides.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB191, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($940,122) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. 

Bill Analysis

HB 191 would establish a safe pesticide disposal department. The new pesticide disposal fund would be created outside of general revenue. Furthermore, the bill would create certain guidelines for the program's oversight to be under the authority of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). HB 191 would also require the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to deposit credits from the registration fees in an amount that does not exceed $400,000.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action opposes HB 191 for violating our principle of limited government. We are not opposed to the general idea of this bill, however, we are opposed to creating new dedicated accounts outside of general revenue. This makes spending less transparent and delegates legislative appropriation authority and makes it more difficult to prioritize spending in lean years. Programs such as this should be funded through the normal appropriations process.