While HCR 13 is a House Concurrent Resolution and not a bill with binding statutory authority or appropriations, it does carry important fiscal implications, particularly by aiming to prevent a potentially devastating economic impact on Texas’s livestock industry. The resolution itself does not authorize or allocate funding, but it urges federal agencies to take specific actions that, if unaddressed, could lead to significant fiscal consequences for the state and its agricultural economy.

Most notably, the resolution cites an estimate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that a screwworm outbreak could result in $1.8 billion in economic damage to Texas. These losses would stem from livestock deaths, increased labor costs for treatment and containment, and medical expenses for affected animals. The broader ripple effect could also strain the U.S. food supply chain, elevating costs for consumers and placing additional financial pressure on Texas ranchers and rural economies.

The fiscal argument embedded in the resolution is preventive in nature. It advocates for expedited federal action—including the construction of a screwworm control facility at Moore Air Force Base, quicker approval of necessary medications and pesticides, and collaborative research with Texas A&M AgriLife. While these actions may require federal spending, the resolution implies that such investments would be fiscally prudent compared to the potential cost of managing a full-scale outbreak after the fact.

In short, although the resolution imposes no direct costs on the State of Texas, it makes a strong case for proactive federal spending to avoid far more substantial economic losses that would indirectly impact state revenues, rural employment, and Texas’s broader agricultural infrastructure. The fiscal implication is that failure to act could result in high costs to private industry and, potentially, to the state in emergency response or economic recovery efforts.

At its core, this resolution is a non-binding legislative expression urging the federal government to take swift and coordinated action to prevent the incursion of the New World screwworm, a dangerous parasitic fly, into Texas. It is a preemptive call to action, based on credible warnings and economic risk assessments, with the goal of protecting Texas’s livestock industry, which is not only a vital component of the state’s economy but also a cornerstone of rural life and food security. The resolution emphasizes cooperation with Mexico, acceleration of federal facility construction, and expedited regulatory approvals for treatment and prevention tools. These objectives are pursued within existing institutional frameworks and do not create new programs, costs, or mandates at the state level.

From a liberty-oriented policy perspective, the resolution enhances public safety, defends private property interests (namely livestock and agricultural resources), and supports free enterprise by seeking to mitigate a potential $1.8 billion economic disruption. Importantly, it does so without expanding state authority or introducing new regulatory burdens on individuals or businesses. The Texas Legislature's role here is advisory, relying on persuasion rather than coercion, and aimed at mobilizing federal agencies to act using their existing powers and resources.

For these reasons, Texas Policy Research encourages lawmakers to vote YES on HCR 13. The measure represents a prudent and responsible use of the Legislature’s voice to protect the well-being of Texans and their industries without inviting mission creep or regulatory overreach.

• Individual Liberty: The resolution does not infringe on personal freedoms or impose restrictions on individuals. Instead, it protects individual liberty by aiming to prevent a public health and economic crisis that could affect the lives and livelihoods of Texans. A screwworm outbreak could threaten not only livestock and wildlife but also pets and potentially humans. In advocating for early intervention, the resolution seeks to preserve public well-being and health without restricting civil liberties.
• Personal Responsibility: This resolution neither mandates individual actions nor penalizes inaction. It focuses on intergovernmental coordination, particularly calling on federal agencies to act quickly using their existing authority. By doing so, it keeps personal responsibility intact while recognizing that the scale and nature of the threat require coordinated expertise beyond the scope of individual or private action.
• Free Enterprise: The resolution affirms support for the agricultural economy by urging the federal government to act quickly to contain a pest that could otherwise impose devastating financial consequences on livestock producers. By protecting ranchers from what could become a costly, multi-billion-dollar outbreak, the resolution safeguards Texas’s free market agriculture sector, helps maintain supply chain stability, and ensures businesses can operate without unnecessary disruption.
• Private Property Rights: Livestock are a form of private property, and a screwworm infestation represents a direct threat to that property. The resolution seeks to protect ranchers and property owners by urging swift action that could prevent mass animal deaths, avoid costly treatment burdens, and reduce loss in asset value. It does so without proposing new regulations or governmental control over private property, thereby reinforcing, rather than undermining, private property rights.
• Limited Government: The resolution exemplifies limited government in action. It does not call for new state regulatory powers or programs, nor does it appropriate state funds. Instead, it urges the federal government to use existing resources and authority more effectively, and it encourages federal-state cooperation, such as partnerships with Texas A&M AgriLife. This resolution uses the voice of the Legislature, rather than expanded government power, to influence necessary action, staying well within the boundaries of limited governance.

Texas at War with Flesh-Eating Parasite: $850 Million Screwworm Defense Initiative Launched