Monitoring the Session

HB 1592

bill creating a pest and disease email alert system

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

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

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Texas A&M AgriLife runs it. Alerts within 72 hours.

The bill orders the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to build a statewide email alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests, diseases, and quarantines. It touches the extension service, the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and Parks and Wildlife, which must sign an agreement so alerts go out within 72 hours. Farmers, ranchers, and anyone else who signs up would get email notices of confirmed pest cases, quarantine orders, and related compliance agreements starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4644 by Rep. Thimesch (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Mihaela Plesa (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Lois Kolkhorst (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1592 · 2024-12-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70 Rep. Trent AshbyRHouse 9 Rep. Mary E. GonzálezDHouse 75

+ 6 coauthors

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

Texas A&M AgriLife runs it. Alerts within 72 hours.

The bill orders the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to build a statewide email alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests, diseases, and quarantines. It touches the extension service, the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and Parks and Wildlife, which must sign an agreement so alerts go out within 72 hours. Farmers, ranchers, and anyone else who signs up would get email notices of confirmed pest cases, quarantine orders, and related compliance agreements starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 15, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Agriculture & Livestock
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.
  10. Considered in formal meeting
  11. Vote reconsidered in committee
  12. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  13. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  14. Committee report distributed
  15. Committee report sent to Calendars
  16. Considered in Calendars
  17. Placed on General State Calendar
  18. Read 2nd time
  19. Passed to engrossment
  20. Record vote RV#843
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote RV#990
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Vote taken in committee
  33. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  34. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  35. Committee report printed and distributed
  36. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  37. Laid before the Senate
  38. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  39. Vote recorded in Journal
  40. Three day rule suspended
  41. Record vote
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote
  45. Senate passage reported
  46. Reported enrolled
  47. Signed in the House
  48. Signed in the Senate
  49. Sent to the Governor
  50. Filed without the Governor's signature
  51. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 110 yea · 27 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Mihaela Plesa

Donors

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$79KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$55KTexBlue Media PAC$33K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$79,480.35

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$79,480.35

Cash
$37,500.00
Paid by others
$41,980.35
Total
$79,480.35
mail $33,992.76digital $4,945.63text $2,016.96advertising $525.00fundraiser $500.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012300, 101032600, 101059513, 101069108, 101072533.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$55,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012300, 101032600, 101059513, 101069108.

TexBlue Media PAC$32,511.00

TexBlue Media PAC

$32,511.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$32,511.00
Total
$32,511.00
advertising $32,511.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 25, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 25, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101072533.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$79,480.35

Cash
$37,500.00
Paid by others
$41,980.35
Total
$79,480.35
mail $33,992.76digital $4,945.63text $2,016.96advertising $525.00fundraiser $500.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012300, 101032600, 101059513, 101069108, 101072533.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012300, 101032600, 101059513, 101069108.

×

TexBlue Media PAC

$32,511.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$32,511.00
Total
$32,511.00
advertising $32,511.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 25, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 25, 2026 to Sep 27, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101072533.

Votes5

Senate May 25, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 1592 (Kolkhorst) Relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 1592 (Kolkhorst) Relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Passage to third reading

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 1592 (Kolkhorst) Relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
110
Nay
27
Present, not voting
1
Absent
7
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 990

HB 1592 was passed by (Record 990): 110 Yeas, 27 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 110 (published)
  • Nay: 27 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
108
Nay
33
Present, not voting
1
Absent
7
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 843

HB 1592 was passed to engrossment by (Record 843): 108 Yeas, 33 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 108 (published)
  • Nay: 33 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses20
For
18
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Dallas County1 registration
  • Native Texas Nursery1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Self; Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society1 registration
  • Self; Texas Foundation for Conservation1 registration
  • Self; Texas Wildlife Association2 registrations
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association2 registrations
  • Texas Corn Producers1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau2 registrations
  • Texas Forestry Association2 registrations
  • Texas Nursery and Landscape Association2 registrations

On

  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension1 registration
  • Texas A&M Agrilife Extension1 registration
Sources

20 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 15, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4644

by Rep. Thimesch, different lead author · Did not pass · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 24, 2023: Removed from local & uncontested calendar

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

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Dec 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Salman BhojaniDHouse 92 Lulu FloresDHouse 51 Josey GarciaDHouse 124 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148 Eddie MoralesDHouse 74 David SpillerRHouse 68
Sponsors
Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

House committee · Agriculture & Livestock · Committee vote 6 aye, 2 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Agriculture

Animals

Health--Other Diseases & Medical Conditions

ALERT SYSTEM

TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF

ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION, TEXAS

PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

Text

The text as introduced · 257 words

89R9 KBT-D

By: Plesa
H.B. No. 1592

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

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.