85th Texas Legislature First Called Session Update – July 28, 2017

The Texas Legislature has filed the following bills for consideration during the first called session of the 85th Texas legislative session. The session began on July 18, 2017.

You can read more on the Texas Senate News page and on the Texas House of Representatives News page. Also, this article, published in the Houston Chronicle, gives an update on some recent actions occurring in the House of Representatives.

House Bills

• HB 7 - Relating to a tree planting credit to offset tree mitigation fees imposed by a municipality. - Passed out of the Urban Affairs Committee and by the House of Representatives 7/28/2017.
• HB 26 -  Relating to the regulation of groundwater.
• HB 27 -  Relating to the development of brackish groundwater.
• HB 70 -  Relating to a property owner’s right to remove a tree or vegetation.
• HB 103 - Relating to the disposal of pesticides.
• HB 199 -  Relating to the authority of an electric utility to impose a rate or charge on an owner of solar or wind electric generation.
• HB 223 -  Relating to the eligibility of land used as an ecological laboratory for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
• HB 226 -  Relating to the state and regional water planning process.
• HB 228 -  Relating to appropriations of water for use in aquifer storage and recovery projects.
• HB 230 - Relating to the use of money in the state water pollution control revolving fund.
• HB 275 -  Relating to extensions of an expired permit for the transfer of groundwater from a groundwater conservation district.
• HB 276 -  Relating to an assessment of the safety and regulation of municipal solid waste facilities.
• HB 277 -  Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and recovery.

Senate Bills

• SB 14 -  Relating to a property owner’s right to remove a tree or vegetation. – Passed out of Business and Commerce Committee and by the Senate. Received by the House of Representatives 7/27/2017.
• SB 48 - Relating to liability for the additional tax imposed on land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural land if the use of the land changes as a result of a condemnation.
• SB 49 - Relating to liability for interest if land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural or open-space land is sold or diverted to a different use.
• SB 78 –  Relating to the eligibility of land used as an ecological laboratory for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
• SB 86 - Relating to the local regulation of trees and timber.
  

Bills Assigned to a Committee

Business and Commerce

• SB 14 – Hall, Bob

Natural Resources

• HB 26 – Larson, Lyle
• HB 27 – Larson
• HB 226 – Larson
• HB 228 – Larson
• HB 230 – Larson
• HB 275 – Ashby, Trent
• HB 277 – Larson

Urban Affairs

• HB 7 – Phelan, Dade
• HB 70 – Workman, Paul

Agriculture and Livestock

• HB 103 – Stephenson, Phil
• HB 223 – Springer, Drew

State Affairs

• HB 199 – Pickett, Joe C. 

Environmental Regulation

• HB 276 – Thompson, Senfronia