Relating to the establishment of an electronic registry of livestock marks and brands.
Summary
HB 147 would modernize Texas livestock branding law by creating an electronic registry of marks and brands maintained by the Texas Animal Health Commission. The bill requires county clerks to keep electronic records of livestock marks and brands, accept electronic filing and rerecording, and send electronic copies of certain records to the commission. It also allows a person to authorize an agent in writing to record a mark or brand on their behalf.
The bill expands the types of livestock identification covered under Chapter 144 to include electronic devices and other generally accepted identification methods, alongside traditional earmarks, brands, and tattoos. It also updates the rerecording schedule for livestock marks and brands and directs the commission to adopt rules for electronic submission, public access, and law enforcement access to the registry. The act would take effect September 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 147 would amend multiple sections of the Agriculture Code governing livestock identification and recording, shifting the system from primarily paper-based county records to a statewide electronic registry. It would require the Texas Animal Health Commission to create and maintain a searchable public database of recorded marks and brands while withholding personal identifying information from the general public. The bill also changes the legal presumption of control over an animal to include a person who has recorded a mark or brand under Chapter 144, and it requires the commission to adopt implementing rules.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was generally treated as a practical administrative modernization measure rather than a controversial policy change. Its focus on electronic filing, centralized records, and easier access for law enforcement and livestock owners indicates support for improving efficiency and traceability in livestock identification. However, the bill’s final status of being laid on the table subject to call suggests it did not advance cleanly, which may reflect unresolved concerns or limited floor time rather than clear opposition in the record provided.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are privacy, administrative burden, and the shift in recordkeeping authority. The bill makes the registry publicly searchable but bars public release of personal identifying information, while still allowing law enforcement access to that information, which could raise privacy and access concerns. County clerks would be required to handle electronic filings and transmit records to the Texas Animal Health Commission, which may create implementation and workload issues. There may also be questions about how the new electronic registry interacts with existing county-based branding practices and the legal presumption tied to recorded marks and brands.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for issuance and content of driver's license and for carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand.
In general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for issuance and content of driver's license and for carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand.