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HB26-1067 • 2026

Diseased Livestock Indemnity Fund

Previously, money in the diseased livestock indemnity fund could be used only to pay indemnity to a livestock owner whose herd had been sold for slaughter or destroyed because the herd was exposed to

Agriculture
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. T. Winter, Sen. B. Pelton, Sen. D. Roberts, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. J. Caldwell, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Garcia Sander, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. R. Gonzalez, Rep. D. Johnson, Rep. R. Keltie, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. M. Lukens, Rep. B. Marshall, Rep. M. Martinez, Rep. T. Mauro, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. C. Richardson, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. K. Stewart, Rep. T. Story, Rep. B. Titone, Rep. R. Weinberg, Rep. S. Woodrow, Sen. J. Bridges, Sen. S. Bright, Sen. J. Carson, Sen. M. Catlin, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. J. Gonzales, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Sen. K. Mullica, Sen. R. Pelton, Sen. C. Simpson, Sen. K. Wallace
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify which diseases qualify as 'emerging threats' nor the criteria for their selection.

Expanding Uses for the Diseased Livestock Indemnity Fund

This law allows money in a specific state fund to be used not just for paying owners when herds are destroyed, but also to prepare for and respond to new threats to livestock health.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows funds to pay owners when their herds are sold or destroyed because of infectious or contagious diseases.
  • Permits the commissioner of agriculture to use funds to prepare for certain emerging threats to livestock health.
  • Authorizes using money to respond to certain emerging threats that could harm livestock populations.
  • Renames the fund to include 'preparedness' and 'response' in its official title.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Livestock owners whose herds are sold or destroyed due to disease.
  • The commissioner of agriculture who manages the fund's money.

Terms To Know

Indemnity
Money paid to a livestock owner when their herd is sold for slaughter or destroyed because it was exposed to an infectious or contagious disease.
Emerging threats
Certain new dangers that could harm the health of livestock, which the fund can now help prepare for and respond to.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The text does not list specific diseases covered under 'certain emerging threats'.
  • No effective date is provided in the source material.
  • The amount of money available in the fund is not stated.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-03-19 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-03-19 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-03-18 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources

  9. 2026-02-18 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. 2026-02-17 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  11. 2026-02-12 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  12. 2026-02-09 House

    House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  13. 2026-01-21 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Previously, money in the diseased livestock indemnity fund could be used only to pay indemnity to a livestock owner whose herd had been sold for slaughter or destroyed because the herd was exposed to or diagnosed with an infectious or contagious disease. The act expands the permissible uses of the money in the diseased livestock indemnity fund by allowing the commissioner of agriculture to authorize using the money to prepare for and respond to certain emerging threats to livestock health.
The act renames the fund the 'livestock health preparedness, response, and diseased livestock indemnity fund' to reflect the expanded scope of the permissible uses of money in the fund.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)