HB 3519

Commercial castor bean cultivation would become an offense

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsReviewed

Rep. AJ LouderbackRHouse 30

Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.

Corrected Nov 1, 2026

Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a prohibition against the cultivation of castor beans; creating a criminal offense.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The ban covers planting, watering, growing and harvesting for a commercial purpose.

The bill makes it an offense to grow castor bean plants for a commercial purpose in Texas. It touches farmers, nurseries, or anyone who plants, waters, grows, or harvests castor beans to sell or otherwise for business. Starting September 1, 2025, commercial growing becomes a Class C misdemeanor, while growing castor beans for non-commercial reasons stays legal.

Labels

Labels: CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (introduced) reads: “relating to a prohibition against the cultivation of castor beans; creating a criminal offense.”QUICK READ: 144 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 144 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 28, 2025 and referred to the House Agriculture & Livestock committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3519 · 2025-02-28

SOLD BY

Rep. AJ LouderbackRHouse 30

ITEM

relating to a prohibition against the cultivation of castor beans; creating a criminal offense.

WHAT IT DOES

The ban covers planting, watering, growing and harvesting for a commercial purpose.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Feb 28, 2025Filed
Mar 24, 2025Read first time
Mar 24, 2025Referred to Agriculture & Livestock

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

AJ Louderback

Donors

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$50K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$28K Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$25K

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 23, 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.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$50,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 6, 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: 101009033, 101071885.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$27,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$27,500.00

Cash: $27,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $27,500.00

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 9, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 100988974, 101009033, 101059497, 101071885.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$25,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 7, 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: 101071885.

Money

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

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 6, 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: 101009033, 101071885.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$27,500.00

Cash: $27,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $27,500.00

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 9, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 100988974, 101009033, 101059497, 101071885.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 7, 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: 101071885.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

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

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 28, 2025

03/24/2025 H Referred to Agriculture & Livestock: Mar 24 2025 2:16PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Agriculture & Livestock · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Agriculture

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Criminal Procedure--General

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Text

The text as introduced · 144 words

89R13253 MP-D

By: Louderback
H.B. No. 3519

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a prohibition against the cultivation of castor beans;

creating a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 5, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding

Subtitle I to read as follows:

SUBTITLE I. PROHIBITED HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS

CHAPTER 129. CASTOR BEANS

Sec. 129.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Castor bean" means the plant Ricinus communis and

any part of the plant, including the seeds, that contain the toxin

ricin.

(2) "Cultivate" includes plant, irrigate, grow, and

harvest.

Sec. 129.002. PROHIBITION ON CULTIVATION OF CASTOR BEANS.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person cultivates castor

beans for a commercial purpose.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.