Texas Officials Launch Push for National Agriculture Freedom Zones

February 26, 2026 – AUSTIN — Sid Miller announced Tuesday a formal partnership with Pete Sessions to advance federal legislation creating Agriculture Freedom Zones, a proposal aimed at protecting prime farmland from large-scale industrial development.

Sessions, who represents Texas’ 17th Congressional District, plans to introduce the measure in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would establish voluntary, incentive-based zones designed to steer data centers, renewable energy projects, and other resource-intensive developments toward areas less suitable for agriculture, such as brownfields, arid land, or sites with existing infrastructure.

Miller said the initiative comes amid growing concern over the rapid expansion of data centers and similar facilities in rural Texas. Those projects, he said, consume significant land and water resources that are critical to farming and ranching operations.

Under the proposal, designated Agriculture Freedom Zones would qualify for targeted federal tax incentives, including potential capital gains tax deferrals and reduced long-term investment rates. Supporters argue those financial tools would encourage developers to avoid converting highly productive farmland while still promoting economic growth.

Sessions framed the effort as a national security priority, citing global instability and increasing competition in agricultural markets. He said preserving America’s most productive farmland is essential to maintaining a stable food supply and supporting rural economies.

Texas consistently ranks among the nation’s top agricultural producers, leading in cattle, cotton, and hay production. State leaders say the AFZ framework would align federal, state, and local economic policies to protect that output while accommodating continued technological and infrastructure development.