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AUSTIN — On April 1, the Texas House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock heard House Bill 43 by State Representative Stan Kitzman, which is designed to boost struggling state agriculture producers following years of record-setting agricultural losses across the state. House Bill 43 will expand existing financial support programs of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA) to better support the evolving needs of the state’s agriculture industry.
“In 2024, Texas led the nation in agricultural losses for the third consecutive time, due to a mix of causes such as drought, excessive heat, supply chain issues, and more. It is urgent that we cut some of the red tape that is keeping relief out of the hands of Texas farmers and producers,” Rep. Kitzman explained to the committee while presenting HB 43. “By removing needless restrictions on who can apply and for what amount, these TAFA grant program funds will be better utilized and thus have greater impact on the state agriculture industry.”
First authorized in 1987, TAFA was created to support the expansion and development of Texas agriculture through financial assistance programs. Over time, the eligibility rules, funding limits, and administrative requirements of TAFA’s programs—such as financial assistance grants and interest rate reduction loans—have become outdated and overly restrictive, limiting the program’s ability to meet the evolving needs of Texas producers.
