News
NRCS Has a New Prescribed Burn Educational Tool
Tuesday, January 31st 2012
NRCS Texas has new Prescribed Burn Education Tool
by Dee Ann Littlefield
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas has released a new video on YouTube, “Prescribed Fire: A historical tool with new opportunities.” The video serves as an education tool to help community officials understand the importance of prescribed fire as an economical brush management practice for the ranching community as well as a fuel mitigation practice to protect cities and communities.
“This project started as a result of severe wildfire outbreaks in Texas and several other states,” says Kent Ferguson, NRCS state range management specialist. “Prescribed fire has always been used and will continue to be utilized as a tool by a select group of individuals, with this video we hope to show just how important the impacts can be to millions of the residents of the state of Texas.
“We felt the need to get our partners on board and produce a product that can educate local officials on the importance of prescribed fire as an economical brush management practice for the ranching community as well as a fuel mitigation practice to protect cities and communities,” Ferguson adds.
The video features narrative from Tom Boggus, Texas Forest Service director, including input from County Commissioners, judges, and attorneys as well as landowners across the state. Information is also provided by NRCS range specialists trained in prescribed burning.
“This video was a cooperative effort through a multi disciplinary partnership lead by the Texas Coalition Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI),” says Jeff Goodwin, Texas State GLCI coordinator. “Our charge was to provide outreach and education to local county officials regarding the importance of prescribed burning as a wildfire mitigation tool and a natural resource management tool for Texas landowners.”
The video is available for viewing on line at http://www.youtube.com/USDANRCSTexas. Copies of the DVD can be obtained by contacting Jeff Goodwin at 257-742-9951, by email at jeff.goodwin@tx.usda.gov or by mail at 101 S. Main St., Temple, Texas 76501.
Most State Amendments Pass; Bond, Water Measures Fail
Tuesday, November 8th 2011
By Chris Tomlinson
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas voters approved constitutional amendments Tuesday that will allow new cooperation between cities and counties, give the governor more power to issue pardons and enable the state to borrow more money for student loans.
With less than 4 percent of voters turning out to cast ballots, most of the 10 proposals were approved, according to unofficial results from the Texas secretary of state's office.
But Texans rejected three measures: one that would have allowed counties to issue development bonds in the same way that cities do, one that would give conservation tax breaks to some landowners and one that would have granted new bonding power to El Paso County.
Proposition 1 allows the surviving spouses of all disabled veterans to continue claiming an exemption from state property tax after the veteran dies. Until now, a widow or widower had to resume paying the property tax after the disabled spouse died.
With the passage of Proposition 2, the state will issue more bonds for water projects. The amendment enables the state to create a revolving $6 billion bond package to finance water conservation projects and sewage and flood control work.
With the passage of Proposition 3, the Higher Education Coordinating Board will be able to finance low-interest student loans with government bonds. Supporters said the plan was necessary because budget cuts to state and federal aid programs will increase demand for fixed-rate loans.
Under Proposition 4, counties would have been given the same authority that cities and towns have to issue bonds to finance the development of underdeveloped or blighted areas. Critics said the amendment would expand transportation reinvestment zones to counties, which could clear the way for new toll roads.
Proposition 5 authorizes the Legislature to allow cities and counties to enter into contracts with other cities and counties without triggering a property tax. Proposition 6 recalculates the distribution formula for the Permanent School Fund and could result in more money going to school districts.
The rejected Proposition 7 would have allowed El Paso County to use property taxes from new conservation districts to develop and maintain parks and recreation facilities. Critics said the measure would have allowed elected officials to avoid getting voter approval for new projects.
Voters also rejected Proposition 8, which would have given tax breaks to landowners who take measures to conserve water and preserve water quality. The proposal was hailed as one of the few measures approved by the Legislature last session that received bipartisan support.
The governor will be able to grant a pardon, reprieve or commutation of punishment to a person who completes a sentence of deferred adjudication under Proposition 9. The records previously could be cleared only on the written recommendation and advice of the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Proposition 10 allows local elected officeholders an extra 30 days before triggering automatic resignation if they become a candidate for another office. The change was made to accommodate a change in the state's filing deadlines.
Congressional Hearing: Narcotics, Terrorism, & Southern U.S. Border
Friday, October 14th 2011
October 14, 2011 Congressional Hearing: Narcotics, Terrorism and Southern U.S. Border, House Homeland Security Subcommittee, on Oversight, Investigations & Management from C-SPAN: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/SBorderP
Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples and Brooks County Veterinarian, Dr. Mike Vickers, testified on behalf of South Texans. There are two parts to the two hour long hearing. It is worth you time to hear it in its entirety.
Sen. Glenn Hegar Speaks on Eminent Domain at STPRA Meeting
Thursday, October 13th 2011
Click here to watch the video
STPRA Member Testifies on Border Security
Thursday, October 13th 2011
STPRA member Dr. Mike Vickers testifies on Border Security issues before the Congressional Home Land Security Subcommittee Friday Oct. 14
Click here to read his testimony
Senator "Chuy" Hinojosa and Rep. JM Lozano Discuss Land Owner Liability at the 6th Annual Meeting & Fundraiser
Thursday, October 13th 2011
Click here to watch the video
Proposition 8 will be on the November 8th Statewide Constitutional Amendment Ballot
Thursday, October 6th 2011
Support for Prop 8 Grows
www.TexansForProp8.com
A broad, diverse group of statewide and local organizations have pledged their support for Proposition 8 in this November’s state constitutional election, Clean, Reliable Water for Texas PAC announced today. Proposition 8, known as the Water Stewardship Amendment, will create an incentive for landowners who manage their property in a way that conserves and protects water for future generations of Texans.
The Texas Wildlife Association is one of dozens of diverse groups that support Proposition 8 - which was also passed unanimously by the Texas Legislature with bipartisan support. Texas Wildlife Association President Glen Webb said the statewide organization supports Proposition 8 because it provides private landowners another tool as stewards of the state’s natural resources. “Proposition 8 will provide Texas property owners more options for managing their property and another tool in their
stewardship efforts. The measure will also help Texas landowners keep their family land intact by providing for tax valuation that recognizes these important water stewardship efforts,” Webb said.
Currently, Texas property owners who use their land to promote agriculture or protect wildlife are eligible to have that property assessed as agricultural land, which tends to reduce their property taxes.
Proposition 8 would extend a similar tax incentive if they choose to manage their land to conserve water and protect water quality.
And because the water incentives in Proposition 8 would only apply to property owners who already qualify for the agriculture or wildlife incentives, it would not reduce the State’s tax revenues or raise taxes.
Ken Kramer, Director of the Lonestar Chapter of the Sierra Club, said “Texas is in desperate need of tools to help protect water quality and preserve water sources for future generations. Proposition 8 does that by allowing the State to partner with private landowners to implement land management practices that will help protect our rivers, streams and aquifers.”
Other major supporters of Proposition 8 include the Texas Association of Realtors, National Wildlife Federation, the Texas League of Conservation Voters, the Hill Country Conservancy, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Houston Wilderness, the Hill Country Alliance, Texas Impact, the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration, the Texas Land Conservancy, the Texas Land Trust Council Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, the Greater Houston Partnership, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
Laura Huffman, Texas State Director of the Nature Conservancy, said the broad base of bipartisan support for Proposition 8 - which includes farmers, ranchers, landowners, industry and conservation groups - demonstrates that the measure is good for Texas. “The Texas Legislature voted unanimously to put Proposition 8 on the November ballot because they recognize the need to provide practical solutions to our complex water supply issues. Our State Water Plan says that more than a quarter of our future water supply must come from conservation. Given that more than 90 percent of Texas is privately owned, working with Texas landowners to protect our water supply is a no brainer.”
Proposition 8 will be on the November 8th statewide constitutional amendment ballot.
STPRA Attends the Protect Your Texas Border Summit in Austin
Monday, September 26th 2011
Photo Taken by Lavoyger Durham
STPRA Representatives attended the Protect Your Texas Border Summit hosted by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples Monday at the state Capitol in Austin.
The summit included the release of a commissioned report on the Texas-Mexico border situation by retired General Barry McCaffrey, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Bill Clinton and former commander of all U.S. troops in Central and South America, and retired Major-General Robert Scales, the former commandant of the U.S. Army War College.
The report offers a military perspective on how to best incorporate strategic, operational and tactical measures to secure the increasingly hostile border regions along the Rio Grande River. It also provides sobering evidence of why Texas landowners and officials have called for increased federal support to defend the border.
To review the report in its entirety, click here or go to protectyourtexasborder.com for more information.
STPRA 2011 Summer Newsletter
Monday, August 1st 2011
Click on the link below to view the entire newsletter
Landowner Compensation Becomes Law
Friday, June 24th 2011
Landowner Compensation Becomes Law--A Legislative Miracle?
Setting the stage
This legislative session, there were many high profile and contentious bills. The consensus was that very little would be considered other that the Governor’s emergency items, the budget (still being decided in the special session), and redistricting.
Hope for a miracle
The definition of a miracle is certainly in the “eye of the beholder”, but some (especially here on staff) would probably say that passing HB 3422 (to allow compensation for landowners from sheriffs’ seizure funds for bailout damages) would be nothing short of a minor legislative miracle this session.
For starters, any time somebody starts messing with designated funds from public agencies, people start getting a little protective. We ran into this challenge last session when we had no choice but to participate in getting a weak bill passed that allowed landowners to be compensated for bail-out damages, but only under limited circumstances.
Improving a weak law
Under the bill we helped pass last session, a landowner could only be compensated for damages from a bail-out if the abandoned vehicle could be sold at auction--and only up to the amount that particular vehicle brought at the sale. We thought that allowing any kind of compensation was a step in the right direction, but that it was not fair or adequate to tie the level of compensation to the value of the vehicle involved in a specific occurrence. What if the vehicle had no value? What if the vehicle was stolen? What if the vehicle was rented? Under any of these scenarios, the landowner could receive absolutely nothing!
Other problems with last session’s bill were that a landowner could only be compensated up to his/her insurance deductible and only up to $1,000 if more than one property suffered damages in the incident. Both provisions were obviously unacceptable. Why should the landowner be required to file a claim in the first place—thereby raising his/her premium? And why should there be a limit placed on multi-property damages per incident—aren’t damages “damages” , regardless of whether or not more than one property suffered greater losses?
Those were the political challenges we sought to overcome and the weaknesses in the legislation we sought to remedy this session.
Overcoming obstacles
Understandably and thankfully, Sen. Hinojosa, who sits on the Finance Committee, gave us the heads-up at the end of January that he had discovered that his plate was too full to carry more than our liability protection bill (which he did successfully, as reported earlier). That news threw us into a great quandary, however. Should we find another Senate sponsor, with only two days before the filing deadline, or just hope that our House author, JM Lozano (who also successfully carried our liability protection bill), could save the day?
First step toward success
Well, happily, the latter happened, with Rep. Lozano’s getting us a hearing in the House. With one day’s notice, Butch Thompson of the King Ranch and our own Susan and Lavoyger Durham beat a path to Austin to bring the legislature a dose of reality.
At the House hearing, after Rep. Lozano made an eloquent appeal to the committee, both Butch and Susan graphically described the every-day situations that our members face in the world of “border wars”. Apparently they made a good case! The committee voted our bill out immediately and placed it on the “Local and Consent” calendar, which greatly speeds up the process.
Time is still the enemy
Despite our success in the House, time was running out for us. Legislative rules dictate the latest date that House bills can be heard in a Senate committee before the end of the session. We were at the deadline. Remarkably, however, Sen. Hinojosa’s office informed us on a Thursday that the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee was going to have a meeting on the following Saturday—the last possible day our bill could be heard. Apparently, we were to be the last bill of the session heard in the Senate!
Taking advantage of an opportunity
With our bill on life support, but with a chance in the Senate, we decided to try to bring in the biggest guns possible. Sure enough, T. Michael O’Connor, sheriff of Victoria County, and Norman Garza, with the Farm Bureau, more than rose to the occasion! After their remarkable testimony, the Senate committee also felt compelled to put our bill on the fast track to passage.
Unbelievably, we made it under the wire!
Despite all the hurdles, most, but not all of which have been described here, we passed HB 3422! Like all of our victories, it was the result of our high-profile, grass-roots membership. There is strength in numbers. Thanks to you, STPRA has become, and will continue to be, a leading voice for the future of our region!
The challenges beyond
We have learned the hard way that just because a bill becomes law does not mean that it will be adequately implemented. We are already discussing with T.Michael how the word can be spread to sheriffs, whom can now legally and fairly compensate landowners for damages, if they so choose.
Butch Thompson, King Ranch; Lavoyger Durham, STPRA Board Member; Susan Durham, STPRA Executive Director;
J.M. Lozano, State Rep.; Robert Howard, STPRA Consultant
SENATE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS LAWSUIT IMMUNITY FOR SOUTH TEXAS LAND OWNERS
Tuesday, May 3rd 2011
Lawsuits stem from injuries and damage in law enforcement related events
South Texas landowners are seeking relief from lawsuits based on incidents arising from law enforcement efforts to curtail drug smuggling and human trafficking along the border with Mexico.
Drug smugglers and human traffickers are running amok across South Texas farms and ranchland, especially during high-speed Border Patrol chases, damaging private property and causing injuries over which landowners are being sued, according to testimony this morning before a Senate committee.
As many as 120 illegal aliens a day are coming onto one family-owned ranch in Brooks County, claimed a representative of the South Texas Property Rights Association. In addition to trespassing, Charles Lawrence and another witness described fence crashing, car wrecks, auto theft, hundreds of deaths and confiscated vehicles in recent years in an area near a checkpoint known as “the walk-around.”
An attorney reportedly located relatives in Mexico of three victims of a rollover occurring on a ranch during pursuit of a “coyote,” or human trafficker. The ensuing lawsuit names the family, the ranch and an oil company with drilling rights on the property, according to testimony. Mike Vickers said many landowners are keeping quiet because they are embroiled in litigation, and some are moving out of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
The witnesses said they need enhanced liability protection from actions caused or precipitated by lawmen beyond what’s currently afforded them for the actions of trespassers. Senate State Affairs Chairman Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) indicated a willingness to oblige. He said he plans later today to vote out SB 1417 by Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen), who has tried to pass similar legislation at least twice before.
The bill would restrict additional liability protection to owners, lessees and occupants of agricultural land, regardless of whether or not they consent to lawmen or others coming onto their property. Landowners also would not be liable for damages or injuries subsequently occurring off their premises. Hinojosa explained that would cover accidents caused by livestock on roadways due to gaps cut in fences during chases.
The bill would extend liability protection to actions caused by federal as well as state and local law enforcement authorities. Landowners still would be liable for gross negligence or willful or wanton acts
By Patrick Graves
Copyright May 02, 2011, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
Protect Our Border: Susan Durham
Thursday, March 10th 2011
The Department of Agriculture has created a website that documents the true stories of those who supply our food under the constant danger of criminals who have crossed our border illegally. Through www.ProtectYourTexasBorder.com, you may access interviews of the South Texas ranchers and farmers who deal daily with harrowing episodes of intimidation, trespassing, drug running and property damage.
STPRA Executive Director, Susan Durham, gave an interview to the Department of Agriculture in February of 2011. Please click here to watch a clip of the interview.
2010 STPRA Winter Newsletter
Wednesday, December 15th 2010
Click on the picture to read the entire winter newsletter.
STPRA PAC endorses candidates
Monday, October 25th 2010
Please log into the members area for the list.
STPRA Meeting Draws a Crowd and the Attention of State Officials and Candidates
Saturday, May 1st 2010
The April 29th annual meeting of the South Texans’ Property Rights Association attracted its largest-ever crowd to hear leading state officials, candidates, and the chief lobbyists for major allies. Well over 120 people gathered at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center in Kingsville for the meeting and fundraising event which followed. The speakers echoed a common theme throughout the entire meeting—the importance of the work STPRA is doing to unite the region to have a stronger voice at the state level.
After the initial business meeting, attendees heard from keynote speaker Susan Combs, State Comptroller, who gave a comprehensive overview of the financial outlook for state government and the Texas economy. She said that while the state faces an enormous deficit for the next biennium, we are faring better than just about any state in the union, largely because of lessons we learned as a result of the economic bust we suffered in the late 80’s. She said that banks and consumers learned not to extend credit lines beyond what could be reasonably repaid, particularly in the real estate sector, which is what caused the initial shock to the national economy in 2007 and 2008.
Ms. Combs was followed by J.M. Lozano, the likely state representative-elect from the 43rd district, who introduced Bill White, Democratic nominee for Governor. Mr. White touted his experience in the private sector, as an official in the U.S. Department of Energy, and as mayor of Houston, in asserting his qualifications to be elected Governor. Mr. White was followed by State Representative Frank Corte, who appeared on behalf of Governor Perry in his bid for re-election to a fourth term. Rep. Corte, who authored the recently passed constitutional amendment providing certain private property rights related to eminent domain proceedings, gave Governor Perry credit for being a staunch advocate for eminent domain protection. He also credited the Governor for his leadership in making the Texas economy the strongest in the country.
After hearing from the candidates, attendees heard a discussion of pending state and federal legislation by Regan Beck with the Texas Farm Bureau and Kirby Brown with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA). Mr. Brown emphasized the importance of looming water regulation issues that could have a critical impact on property owners. He explained the legal actions TWA has taken in asserting a property owner’s right to the water underneath his land, thanking members of STPRA for contributing to the legal fees for an amicus brief in a recent Texas Supreme Court case. He also cautioned attendees to stay vigilant in opposing a pending bill that would expand federal control over virtually every type of surface water, no matter how small the collection might be.
Mr. Beck focused his comments on remaining work that needs to be done in furthering property owner protections in eminent domain proceedings. He also said that the Trans-Texas Corridor is not officially dead. He stated that the Farm Bureau will be working to kill it once and for all during the next legislative session and also ensure rural representation on TxDOT throughout the sunset review process that will be completed in the next session. During the panel discussion, STPRA consultant Robert Howard said that another top priority for STPRA in the next session would be expanding liability protection for property owners, while pursuing similar protection at the federal level.
The panel discussion was followed by a presentation by James McAllen, Jr., who had just attended a House committee hearing in the Valley on border violence. He emphasized the urgency of the situation and said that state and local officials are taking some actions to protect the local population, but that they must continue to increase their efforts, particularly in the absence of adequate support from the federal government.
The next presentation was from Dr. Dee Ellis, Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. Dr. Ellis assured the audience that he believed that a piroplasmosis outbreak was coming under control and that he does not foresee any great danger for horses throughout the state. He then focused on the fever tick epidemic and said that continued advocacy is needed to secure adequate state and federal resources to fight the disease. He pointed out that increasing border violence was affecting the tick riders’ ability to access remote areas.
Dr. Ellis was followed by state veterinarian Dr. Kevin Varner, who credited STPRA with being a strong advocate for additional funding for research and implementation of fever eradication methods. Dr. Varner was followed by Dr. Greta Schuster, of Texas A &M University, Kingsville, who gave a brief, but informative presentation of the status of the fever tick outbreak and strategies for alleviating it.
Upon adjournment of the meeting, the gathering transitioned into a social fundraising event complete with live music, food, drink, and a silent auction. The fundraiser was a big success, yielding a net profit of over $23,000.
The board and staff of STPRA would like to thank all the sponsors and attendees who made this event possible.