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HB 1417

Relating to the establishment of an electronic registry of livestock marks and brands.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Ryan Guillen and 4 co-sponsors

HB 1417 creates an electronic statewide livestock marks and brands registry to modernize Texas's current paper-based ownership identification system.

Referred to Agriculture & Livestock
#animalhealthcommission #texas(v0000) #agriculture(i0020) #animals(i0035) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #internet(s0130)
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Bill Summary · HB 1417

Legislative bill overview

HB 1417 establishes a statewide electronic registry system for livestock marks and brands in Texas, replacing or supplementing the current paper-based registration system. The bill aims to modernize how ranchers and livestock owners record and verify ownership identification for cattle, horses, and other livestock.

Why is this important

Livestock marks and brands are critical property identifiers in Texas's ranching industry, serving as proof of ownership and helping recover stolen animals. An electronic registry would improve accessibility, reduce fraud, speed up ownership verification, and create a more efficient system than traditional county-level paper records that can be difficult to search and cross-reference.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and funding: Establishing and maintaining a statewide electronic system requires significant infrastructure investment; unclear who bears these costs (state, counties, or livestock owners through fees)
  • Data privacy and access concerns: Centralizing brand registry information digitally raises questions about who can access the database, whether hackers could target it, and how to balance transparency with protecting ranchers' property information
  • Transition and compliance burden: Ranchers accustomed to county-level registration may face delays, additional paperwork, or fees to migrate existing marks and brands into the new electronic system

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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