Bill > HB147

This bill establishes an electronic registry of livestock marks and brands in Texas, updating the existing agricultural code to modernize how livestock identification is recorded and managed. The legislation requires owners of cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats to record their unique identification methods (such as earmarks, brands, tattoos, electronic devices, and other accepted identification methods) with their county clerk, who will now be required to maintain an electronic record. The Texas Animal Health Commission will be responsible for creating a publicly accessible, searchable online registry of these marks and brands, while ensuring that personal identifying information remains protected. The bill expands the recording options to include electronic filing and allows owners to authorize agents to record their marks. County clerks must now deliver electronic copies of these records to the Texas Animal Health Commission, and owners must re-record their marks every 10 years, with the next recording deadline set for September 1, 2031. The bill also modifies the legal presumption of animal control, adding recording a mark or brand as a criteria for establishing presumed control. The new electronic registry and associated rules will take effect on September 1, 2025, giving state agencies time to prepare the necessary infrastructure and procedures.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB147