Sec. 60.003.  FINDINGS.  (a)  Agriculture is a critical element in Texas' economic, cultural, and historical development but is under considerable pressure as a result of market concentration, competitive forces, adverse weather conditions, urbanization, and other factors.
(b)  Agriculture is a vital component of a diversified state economy, creates numerous economic opportunities, and serves to renew the state's natural resources through the annual production of crops and livestock and the use and reuse of agricultural by-products.
(c)  The state must increase economic opportunities, including value-added operations, to keep more agriculture-based activity in the state and ensure that agriculture remains a vital force in the economy.  In order to accomplish this goal, the state must provide incentives to promote the development of agricultural facilities.
(d)  The means and measures authorized by this chapter are in the public interest and serve a public purpose of this state in promoting the development of agricultural facilities and operations by providing incentives for the development of projects that result in employment and economic activity.
(e)  The creation of agricultural development districts is essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution, and to accomplish the other public purposes stated in this chapter and further serves the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, and Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1393, Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 2001.