Episode 10 features Zaira Garcia, Texas State Director of FWD.us, a national organization with state-level chapters focused on fixing the broken U.S. immigration system.  Amongst the priorities for FWD.us is improving the H-2B and H-2A programs, something the green industry has been working on for years. In this episode, we go into the work of FWD.us and their partnership with TNLA along with other Texas business groups to improve these vital programs.

For additional information on the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association click here.

In this episode of the TNLA Green Report we interview Tiffany Lashmet, author of the Texas Agriculture Law Blog. Tiffany is an associate professor and extension specialist for the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.  In our interview we covered the Water of the United States update, liability on pesticide drift, landowner liability, and property rights.  Be sure to listen to the episode and check out Tiffany's blog at https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/about/.

In the past two years, major cities across Texas have expanded their regulatory authority by creating new employment mandates on businesses of all sizes.  As Texas employers struggle to comply, the business community, including TNLA, have begun to push back on these patchwork regulations.  This episode we speak with Annie Spilman, Texas State Director for NFIB and spokeswoman for the ASSET coalition on the fight against cities creating employer mandates. 

Texas is preparing for the start of a new industrial hemp market and it has grower's curious about the role of nursery growers in the business potential of hemp propagation.  Listen in as we talk with Zack Guignardi from Colorado about how he is using greenhouses for the propagation of hemp clones, and producing clean, genetically consistent stock for row crop farmers in his state.  We get into propagation techniques, seeds vs. clones, the variations of the hemp plant, and potential risks.

Listen in as TNLA speaks with Texas House Ag Chairman Drew Springer Chairman Springer represents an expansive rural district in North Texas and, as a four-time elected state official, he is in his first session as a committee chairman.  We discuss some of the major issues being tackled this session and the work of his committee.  

State Representative Mary Gonzalez represents Texas House District 75 in eastern El Paso County.  A four-term Texas House member, she has served on various committees important to the Green Industry including Agriculture, Public Education, and House Appropriations.  

Jay Williams with Landscape Art talks with the Green Report about his experience with the H-2B and the critical impacts this program has for the way his landscaping company is able to do conduct business.  

Ryan Skrobarczyk takes a deep dive into H-2B as it happens in DC with NALP’s Vice President of Government Relations, Andrew Bray who shares his perspective of the current Federal climate and getting over the government shutdown and back to business.

To stay up to date on TNLA following H-2B and all Federal and State Legislative Issues impacting the Texas Green Industry visit TNLA's Legislative Action Center or if you are a member of TNLA receive weekly e-news updates by subscribing to TNLA's Leader List.

To learn more about the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) visit www.TNLAonline.org.

Welcome to The Green Report.  My name is Ryan Skrobarczyk and I am the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association.  The team at TNLA started the Green Report as a way to bring you up-to-date on the news and politics that affect the green industry in Texas.   From growers to landscapers and everyone in between, each business is impacted by the politicians, legislators, and regulators of every stripe and this is our effort to bring you up to speed on what you need to know. ​