86th Texas Legislature Updates: February 14, 2019

Legislators continued filing bills for the 86th Texas Legislative Session. Recently filed bills relate to local government prohibitions or restrictions on the sale or use of a container or package, legislation relating to water quality protection areas, and legislation relating to the regulation by certain municipalities of disposable plastic bag use.

Of particular note is House Bill 136, filed on November 12, 2018, by Representative Mary González. The bill is in relation to pollinator health. The bill states, “The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in consultation with the department, shall develop of educational materials regarding the best practices for avoiding adverse effects from pesticides on the population of bees and other pollinating insects.The educational material must include information on measures that pesticide applicators may take to protect honeybees and bumblebees.” House Bill 136 has been assigned to the Agriculture and Livestock committee as of February 13, 2019.

The deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions–other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and emergency matters submitted by the governor–is March 8, 2019.

House of Representatives

Recently filed bills

• HB 1507: Relating to programs that can be established and funded under the Texas emissions reduction plan.
• HB 1514: Relating to the Texas Olive Oil Industry Advisory Board.
• HB 1549: Relating to seller’s disclosures regarding the proximity of certain residential real property to certain landfills and related facilities.
• HB 1563: Relating to the licensing and regulation of animal export-import processing facilities; providing penalties; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.
• HB 1591: Relating to the regulation of disease control by the Animal Health Commission.
• HB 1594: Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of groundwater availability in certain counties.
• HB 1617: Relating to the deadline by which the Texas Water Development Board is required to identify and designate brackish groundwater production zones for certain areas of the state.
• HB 1627: Relating to the removal of certain counties from the Texas emissions reduction plan.
• HB 1671: Relating to water quality protection areas.
• HB 1694: Relating to limitations on food regulations at farms, farmers’ markets, and cottage food production operations
• HB 1696: Relating to the preference given by state and local governmental entities to agricultural products produced or grown in this state.
• HB 1708: Relating to the expedited processing of certain applications for permits under the Texas Clean Air Act.
• HB 1723: Relating to repeal of the permit requirement for intrastate shipment of bees.
• HB 1746: Relating to sources of funding and administration of the Texas emissions reduction plan.
• HB 1747: Relating to the expedited processing of certain applications for permits under the Clean Air Act; use of revenue.

Bills Assigned to House Committees

• Natural Resource
  • HB 26: Relating to the creation of an alert system to notify affected persons of certain releases of water from certain dams.
  • HB 100: Relating to information on projected changes in weather and water availability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.
  • HB 137: Relating to reports by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality about dams that have certain hazard classifications.
  • HJR 11: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.
• Agriculture & Livestock
  • HB 70: Relating to a strategic plan goal by the Department of Agriculture to prevent crop diseases in this state.
  • HB 136: Relating to pollinator health.
  • HB 191: Relating to the disposal of pesticides.

Senate

RECENTLY FILED BILLS

• SB 776: Relating to the establishment of an agriculture and rural ombudsman office
• SB 777: Relating to local government prohibitions or restrictions on the sale or use of a container or package.
• SB 788: Relating to the preference given by state and local governmental entities to agricultural products produced or grown in this state.
• SB 789: Relating to limitations on food regulations at farms, farmers’ markets, and cottage food production operations.
• SB 800: Relating to extensions of an expired permit for the transfer of groundwater from a groundwater conservation district.
• SB 816: Relating to the regulation by certain municipalities of disposable plastic bag use.

bills Assigned to Senate Committees

• Veteran Affairs & Border Security
  • SCR 13: Urging Congress to oppose construction of a border wall through Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.
• Natural Resources & Economic Development
  • SB 417: Relating to concrete batching and concrete crushing facilities.
• Water & Rural Affairs
  • SB 515: Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the effects of the construction of a border wall on storm drainage and other environmental matters in this state.
  • SB 520: Relating to the storage and recovery of water in a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.

More information about the 86th Texas Legislative session can be found at capitol.texas.gov.