HB1592

Regular Session

Relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (System Administrator) • Department of Agriculture (TDA) • Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) • Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025.
Compliance Deadline: Immediate upon system launch. While the law takes effect in September, your liability attaches the moment the first alert is transmitted.
Agency Rulemaking: Texas A&M AgriLife must execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TDA, TAHC, and TPWD prior to implementation. Watch for the definition of "dangerous" pests during this pre-implementation phase, as it will dictate the volume and severity of alerts.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Audit Insurance: Verify if your Commercial General Liability policy excludes biological pests or contaminants.
2. Update SOPs: Create a workflow that routes AgriLife alerts directly to logistics managers with decision-making authority.
3. Monitor for Launch: Task your regulatory team with watching for the Texas A&M AgriLife portal launch in Q3 2025.
4. Revise Vendor Terms: Add a clause requiring vendors to verify quarantine status before shipping biomass or equipment to your sites.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Force Majeure: Review Master Service Agreements (MSAs) immediately. Ensure "government-imposed quarantines" and "movement restrictions" are explicitly defined as Force Majeure events to protect against breach of contract claims if an alert halts a shipment.
Vendor Indemnification: Update vendor contracts to require that they subscribe to the HB1592 alert system. Include indemnification clauses holding vendors liable if they ignore an alert and introduce a pest/disease onto your premises.

Hiring/Training

Designate a Monitor: You must assign a specific role (Logistics Manager or Compliance Officer) to subscribe to the system immediately upon launch.
SOP Updates: Revise logistics training to include a "Stop-Ship" protocol. If an alert is received, operations must have the authority to halt movement within the 72-hour notification window.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Defensive Logging: The law does not require you to report to the state, but you must document your intake of these alerts. Maintain a digital log of alerts received and the specific mitigation steps taken (e.g., "Vehicle washed per protocol on [Date]") to defend against negligence claims.

Fees & Costs

No Direct Fees: The Legislative Budget Board anticipates no fiscal impact to the state or local government, and there are no user fees for the alert system.
Indirect Costs: Potential costs arise from business interruption (quarantines) and denied insurance claims if coverage is excluded for "pollutants/contaminants" (biological pests).

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

"Compliance Agreements": Section 88.823(a)(3) requires the state to notify the public of "any compliance agreements entered into." It is currently unclear if this refers to generic templates or specific agreements with individual businesses. If the latter, this presents a significant risk of proprietary data exposure. We are monitoring this for privacy concerns.
The 72-Hour Window: The law requires agencies to report to the system within 72 hours of an action. It is undefined whether this timeline includes weekends and holidays. This ambiguity creates a risk gap for shipments moving over weekends during active outbreaks.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsAgriculture Animals Health Health--other Diseases & Medical Conditions Alert System Texas A&m Agrilife Extension Service Agriculture, Department of Animal Health Commission, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1592

By: Plesa

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that the timely distribution of agricultural information is essential to protect the agricultural industry and citizens from emerging threats like pests and diseases and that currently, Texas does not disseminate this information quickly enough, leaving the economy and environment vulnerable to consequences as a result. The bill author has also informed the committee that while the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Animal Health Commission, and Texas Department of Agriculture play a key role in identifying and managing these threats, the current mechanisms for sharing this information are often fragmented or delayed. H.B. 1592 seeks to provide a solution to address gaps in communication within the state's agricultural response system by establishing an opt-in internet based alert system through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, ensuring that business, growers, retailers, and citizens receive timely and critical updates on emerging wildlife and plant pests, diseases, and quarantine and enabling a more efficient, prepared response to agricultural threats.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1592 amends the Education Code to require the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture (TDA), the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), and the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), to develop and implement a statewide Internet-based alert system for notifications related to wildlife and plant pests, diseases, and quarantines. The alert system must issue notifications for the following:

·a confirmed case of a dangerous plant or wildlife pest or disease;

·the establishment, modification, or removal of a pest or disease quarantine order; and

·any compliance agreements entered into with TDA related to a pest or disease quarantine.

The bill requires the alert system to issue notifications through email and provide for enrollment in the alert system for delivery of a system notification. The bill requires the extension service to enter into a memorandum of understanding with TDA, the TAHC, and TPWD to ensure the extension service is able to issue a required notification within 72 hours of an applicable action by those agencies.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Mihaela PlesaDemocrat · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Coauthors (6)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 1592

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests
	and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
	Service.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 88.823 to read as follows:
	Sec. 88.823. PEST, DISEASE, AND QUARANTINE ALERT SYSTEM.
	(a) With the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, the
	Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Parks and Wildlife
	Department, the extension service shall develop and implement a
	statewide Internet-based alert system for notifications related to
	wildlife and plant pests, diseases, and quarantines. The alert
	system must issue notifications for:
	(1) a confirmed case of a dangerous plant or wildlife
	pest or disease;
	(2) the establishment, modification, or removal of a
	pest or disease quarantine order; and
	(3) any compliance agreements entered into with the
	Department of Agriculture related to a pest or disease quarantine.
	(b) The alert system established under this section must:
	(1) issue notifications through e-mail; and
	(2) provide for enrollment in the alert system for
	delivery of a system notification.
	(c) The extension service shall enter into a memorandum of
	understanding with the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Animal
	Health Commission, and the Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure
	the extension service is able to issue a required notification
	under Subsection (a) within 72 hours of an applicable action by
	those agencies.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 24, 2025

TO:	Honorable Ryan Guillen, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1592 by Plesa (Relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

551 Department of Agriculture, 554 Animal Health Commission, 555 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JMc, TUf, LBO, CPo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1592

What does Texas HB1592 do?

HB1592 mandates the creation of a centralized, internet-based alert system for agricultural pests and diseases, effective September 1, 2025. While the administrative burden falls on state agencies, this law establishes constructive notice for your business; once an alert is issued regarding a quarantine or movement restriction, your organization is legally presumed to be informed, eliminating ignorance as a defense against liability. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025.

Who authored HB1592?

HB1592 was authored by Texas Representative Mihaela Plesa during the Regular Session.

When was HB1592 signed into law?

HB1592 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB1592?

HB1592 is enforced by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (System Administrator), Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

How urgent is compliance with HB1592?

The compliance urgency for HB1592 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB1592?

The cost impact of HB1592 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB1592 address?

HB1592 addresses topics including agriculture, animals, health, health--other diseases & medical conditions and alert system.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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