TX HB5339

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must establish the Higher Education Regenerative Agriculture Grant Program to fund public universities studying soil health practices, bioremediation techniques, and methods to help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is defined as holistic practices that enhance soil health, increase organic matter, improve water retention, boost drought/flood resilience, and promote biodiversity through minimal soil disturbance, cover crops, crop rotation, and livestock integration

No single institution may receive more than 30% of total annual grant funds; priority goes to institutions partnering with 501(c)(3) nonprofits and those receiving less than 25% of agricultural funding from synthetic input manufacturers

Grant funds may be used for multiyear research projects, farmer education and training programs (prioritizing small/mid-sized farms), student internships, development of educational resources, and collaborative pilot programs

The Board must collaborate with the State Soil and Water Conservation Board, create a statewide online resource hub for sharing findings, and submit annual reports to the legislature; program begins 2026-2027 academic year and requires specific legislative appropriation for mandatory implementation