As previously mentioned in several published articles, the Lone Star Beekeepers Association supports the repeal of the permit requirement beekeepers have to comply with to transport honey bees across a Texas county line.
There are presently 3 bills before the current session of the Texas Legislature that propose repeal of this permit. Those three bills are Senate Bill 677, House Bill 2670, and House Bill 1723. Of those 3 bills, only HB 1723 deals solely with the repeal of the permit requirement.
SB 677 & HB 2670 contain additional provisions unrelated to the repeal of the county to county bee transportation permit. Those additional provisions in SB 677 & HB 2970 are causing those bills to be challenged by many beekeepers and local beekeeper associations across the state so those bills are at risk of not passing.
The additional provisions in SB 677 & HB 2670 add a voluntary fee based beekeeper registration and also adds the ability to circumvent the hive health certification process while importing bees into Texas. Though the repeal of the county to county transport permit requirement is widely supported, a large number of beekeepers across the state are voicing their opposition to beekeeper registration and the hive import inspection loop-hole.
Fortunately HB 1723 proposes repeal of the county to county bee transport permit without the additional baggage opposed by many beekeepers. Vice Chair of the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee, Representative “Doc” Anderson has thrown his weight behind HB 1723 by attaching his name to it as an additional House sponsor. The Legislative Aid for Representative Meza’s agriculture committee activities, Sam Gostomski, told LSBA “Both Representative Meza and Representative Anderson are still committed to moving the bill forward” and has requested a hearing on the bill before the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee.
The next step to move HB 1723 forward is a hearing of the bill before the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee.
CALL TO ACTION
Help this bill move forward by contacting both the House Ag & Livestock Committee Chair Representative Drew Springer, and the House Ag & Livestock Chair’s clerk, Alexander McMillan at (512) 463-0762.
Tell them you support House Bill 1723 and encourage a hearing for that bill be scheduled.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Alexander McMillan can be contacted at (512) 463-0762
Representative Drew Springer can be contacted at (512) 463-0526 or Drew.Springer@house.texas.gov.