This past week, Senator Charles Perry and Representative Dustin Burrows introduced SB731 and HB2089 respectively in the Texas Legislature relating to the detection and mitigation of plant pests and diseases. The legislation, if enacted, would establish an early plant detection and mitigation system through cooperative agreements with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and institutions of higher education. This bill provides a full range of activities, including field inspection for early detection before the invasive species becomes established or becomes too large and costly to eradicate or control. Early detection of plant pests and disease will allow for better containment or slowing the ...