86th Texas Legislature Updates: March 12, 2019
The deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions–except in special circumstances–was March 8, 2019.
When the deadline had passed, a total of 7,281 bills and joint resolutions had been filed, according to the Legislative Reference Library. None of these bills have passed. In comparison, legislators filed 6654 bills–of which 1161 eventually passed without veto–by the deadline during the 85th regular session in 2017.
Recent bills of note relate to the eligibility for grants for alternative fueling facilities, to the regulation of radioactive waste, and to TCEQ reminders to public drinking water supply system operators regarding reporting requirements.
This session, the Texas Campaign for the Environment is focusing on legislation that relates to cleaning up pollution, reforming our trash system, and restoring and defending local protections. The following are examples of bills of interest:
- House Bill 1329, which requires waste facilities under an enforcement order to hold monthly public meetings detailing their progress on remedies to environmental concerns
- House Bill 514/Senate Bill 648 that would restore the rights of local governments to deal with single-use bag pollution in their communities
- House Bill 1804 that would put all parts of TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) public meeting on the record.
A full list and more information about Texas Campaign for the Environment’s legislative priorities can be found at https://www.texasenvironment.org/.
We’d love to know what bills you are watching. Send an email to madeline.bell@cechouston.org.
More information about the 86th Texas Legislative session can be found at capitol.texas.gov.
House of Representatives
Recently filed bills
- HB 3142: Relating to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reminders to public drinking water supply system operators regarding reporting requirements.
- HB 3210: Relating to the establishment of the Thirty Percent Texas Initiative to encourage the use of food produced in this state for school lunches.
- HB 3224: Relating to the creation of a defense under the Solid Waste Disposal Act for persons engaged in certain recycling transactions.
- HB 3246: Relating to treating and recycling for beneficial use certain liquid or semi-liquid waste arising out of or incidental to drilling for or producing oil or gas.
- HB 3249: Relating to the use of Texas emissions reduction plan funds for a study conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
- HB 3261: Relating to the use of green storm-water infrastructure in new state buildings.
- HB 3280: Relating to an exemption for certain small producers from regulations on nursery products and florist items.
- HB 3289: Relating to the Nueces River Authority, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.
- HB 3291: Relating to the eligibility for grants for alternative fueling facilities.
- HB 3318: Relating to a permit requirement for the land application of domestic septage.
- HB 3319: Relating to the collection of soil monitoring samples from land application units where sewage sludge or domestic septage is applied.
- HB 3320: Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to require water pollution abatement plans from certain facilities regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
- HB 3324: Relating to groundwater impact contingency planning by pipeline operators.
- HB 3348: Relating to the eligibility of land on which the Texas Animal Health Commission has established a temporary quarantine for ticks for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural or open-space land.
- HB 3404: Relating to the issuance of a permit for a concrete plant located in an area of a municipality not subject to zoning regulations.
- HB 3480: Relating to the disclosure of the composition of fluids and materials transported by pipelines regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
- HB 3560: Relating to the authority of a county to implement a pilot program to reuse wastewater at county facilities.
- HB 3600: Relating to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality adoption of a streamlined regulatory program for certain aggregate production operations.
- HB 3770: Relating to a pilot project conducted by the Texas Water Development Board regarding the real-time monitoring of the inundation and water quality of certain portions of the Rio Grande.
- HB 3799: Relating to the advertising and labeling of certain meat food products.
- HB 3802: Relating to the creation of a zero-emissions vehicle program.
- HB 3805: Relating to reporting requirements for certain accidental discharges or spills.
- HB 3816: Relating to the regulatory analysis of rules proposed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- HB 3817: Relating to prohibiting the operation of concrete plants and crushing facilities at certain locations.
- HB 3843: Relating to the use of a priority groundwater management area study in certain areas.
- HB 3853: Relating to the administration by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board of proposed biological and environmental research by institutions of higher education on private property.
- HB 3930: Relating to a prohibition of the land application of grease or grit trap waste.
- HB 3944: Relating to inspections of solid waste facilities conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- HB 4002: Relating to a contested case hearing to identify a sensitive feature related to an Edwards Aquifer protection plan.
- HB 4110: Relating to a study evaluating and making recommendations for the regulation of on-site sewage disposal systems in the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer.
- HB 4012: Relating to the procedure for qualifying for the exemption from ad valorem taxation of pollution control property.
- HB 4049: Relating to regulation and permitting of certain recycling facilities.
- HB 4060: Relating to a program administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to provide grants to promote pipeline emergency preparedness; authorizing a fee.
- HB 4063: Relating to the location and operation of certain concrete crushing facilities.
- HB 4078: Relating to applications for permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain new or expanded facilities in certain low-income and minority communities.
- HB 4087: Relating to an affirmative defense to a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement action for unauthorized emission events.
- HB 4089: Relating to the regulation of radioactive waste.
- HB 4116: Relating to a voluntary financial assurance program for permit holders under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
- HB 4136: Relating to a limitation on the expansion of certain landfills near a rail corridor.
- HB 4212: Relating to the establishment of a professional bee removal training and licensure program.
- HB 4247: Relating to the operation of rock and concrete crushing facilities at certain locations.
- HB 4380: Relating to the creation of the Environmental Task Force Advisory Committee.
- HB 4584: Relating to sale of returnable containers; creating a criminal offense.
- HB 4409: Relating to monitoring emissions of air contaminants from certain mining-related facilities; imposing of a fee.
- HB 4493: Relating to supplemental environmental projects authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- HB 4595: Relating to a study and report on the optimum water level of Falcon Lake.
- HB 4599: Relating to the establishment and implementation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of a program to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases in this state; authorizing a fee.
Bills Assigned to House Committees
- Environmental Regulation
- HB 2055: Relating to the provision of information regarding certain enforcement actions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- HB 2093: Relating to the Texas emissions reduction plan surcharge.
HB 2094: Relating to the administration of and funding for the Texas emissions reduction plan. - HB 2098: 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 water quality in this state.
- HB 2203: Relating to notice of a radioactive substance release.
- HB 2253: Relating to certain programs under the Texas Clean Air Act that reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality; authorizing a fee.
- HB 2269: Relating to the operations of the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact waste disposal facility.
- HB 2426: Relating to regulation of on-site sewage disposal systems including occupational licensure requirements associated with those systems.
- HB 2581: Relating to the administration of and funding for the Texas emissions reduction plan; reducing a surcharge.
- HB 2771: Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the discharge into water of this state of produced water, hydro-static test water, and gas plant effluent resulting from certain oil and gas activities.
- HB 2948: Relating to the creation of an advisory panel to study and compile a report on best management practices and funding mechanisms for the prevention, mitigation, and abatement of windblown and waterborne litter in communities.
- HB 2999: Relating to air filtration efficiency standards at certain educational and child care facilities.
- HB 2055: Relating to the provision of information regarding certain enforcement actions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- Natural Resources
- HB 2122: Relating to regulation of the production of retail public utility wells by a groundwater conservation district.
- HB 2123: Relating to authorizing petitions to change certain rules adopted by groundwater conservation districts.
- HB 2125: Relating to the award of attorney’s fees and other costs in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.
- HB 2201: Relating to the date for the confirmation election for the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District.
- HB 2215: Relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the approval of conservation and reclamation district petitions.
- HB 2249: Relating to regulation of production of wells for retail public utilities by a groundwater conservation district.
- HB 2880: Relating to a study of the effects of building requirements on the use of water conservation technology.
- HB 2122: Relating to regulation of the production of retail public utility wells by a groundwater conservation district.
- Agriculture and Livestock
- State Affairs
- HB 2558: Relating to prohibited retaliation against state employees for referring to climate change or global warming.
- Homeland Security and Public Safety
- HB 2560: Relating to a debris management plan and training.
- Energy Resources
- HB 2942: Relating to the adoption and enforcement of reclamation standards for certain sand mining operations; authorizing a fee.
Senate
Recently filed bills
- SB 1496: Relating to a pilot project conducted by the Texas Water Development Board regarding the real-time monitoring of the inundation and water quality of certain portions of the Rio Grande.
- SB 1498: Relating to regulation of on-site sewage disposal systems including occupational licensure requirements associated with those systems.
- SB 1499: Relating to a prohibition on the issuance by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a permit for a commercial surface disposal facility located near a school.
- SB 1501: Relating to the commencement of construction of a project following the issuance of a draft permit for a permit amendment to an air quality permit.
- SB 1585: Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the discharge into water of this state of produced water, hydrostatic test water, and gas plant effluent resulting from certain oil and gas activities.
- SB 1630: Relating to abolishing the requirement for risk-based inspections of used automotive parts recyclers.
- SB 1639: Relating to industrial solid waste generated in a foreign country.
- SB 1656: Relating to the conversion of plastics and other recoverable materials through pyrolysis or gasification.
- SB 1696: Relating to the regulation of aggregate production operations; requiring a permit; authorizing a fee.
- SB 1672: Relating to the detection and mitigation of plant pests and diseases.
- SB 1684: Relating to the punishment for the offense of forgery relating to a writing of a metal recycling entity.
- SB 1753: Relating to the regulation of radioactive waste.
- SB 1805: Relating to egg grading.
- SB 1842: Relating to permits for the production of groundwater in a designated brackish groundwater production zone in the Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District.
- SB 1884: Relating to the protection of animal and crop facilities; creating a criminal offense.
- SB 1885: Relating to notice of a radioactive substance release.
- SB 1931: Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to conduct background checks.
- SB 1990: Relating to changes to an application for an environmental permit before a contested case hearing on the application.
- SB 1994: Relating to reporting requirements for certain accidental discharges or spills.
- SB 2035: Relating to the advertising and labeling of certain meat food products.
- SB 2061: Relating to a prohibition on the application of certain pesticides at public school buildings and other facilities.
- SB 2062: Relating to the publication of pathogen-related data from river basins by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- SB 2063: Relating to the use of green storm-water infrastructure in new state buildings.
- SB 2064: Relating to methane gas reduction by The University of Texas System.
- SB 2065: Relating to affirmative defenses for a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement action for unauthorized emission or opacity events.
- SB 2067: Relating to the matters to be considered in developing the state water plan.
- SB 2069: Relating to the development of a climate adaptation plan by certain entities.
- SB 2070: Relating to a prohibition of the land application of grease or grit trap waste.
- SB 2154: Relating to the administration of certain programs under the Texas emissions reduction plan.
- SB 2170: Relating to pollinator health.
- SB 2175: Relating to affirmative defenses for a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality enforcement action for unauthorized emission or opacity events.
- SB 2233: Relating to monitoring emissions of air contaminants from certain mining-related facilities; imposing of a fee.
- SB 2354: Relating to judicial review of acts by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- SB 2278: Relating to the regulation of certain aggregate production operations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee.
- SB 2382: Relating to sale of returnable containers; creating a criminal offense.
- SB 2385: Relating to the carcinogenic risk level used in the development of certain environmental remediation benchmarks.
- SB 2387: Relating to the regulatory analysis of rules proposed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- SB 2394: Relating to reporting requirements for certain accidental discharges or spills.
bills Assigned to Senate Committees
- Natural Resources and Economic Development
- SB 1021: Relating to the operations of the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact waste disposal facility.
- SB 1242: Relating to the location of hearings relating to contested cases before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- SB 1243: Relating to the consideration of the cumulative effects of air contaminant emissions in the emissions permitting process.
- SB 1247: Relating to who may request a public hearing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality related to the construction of a concrete plant.
- SB 1339: Relating to road specifications and safety standards for access to a solid waste facility.
- Water and Rural Affairs
- SB 1041: 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.
- SB 1041: 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.
- Health and Human Services
- Finance
- SB 1205: Relating to an appropriation of money from the general revenue fund to the State Soil and Water Conservation Board for the purpose of eradicating Carrizo cane, contingent on the receipt of federal funds for the same purpose.
More information about the 86th Texas Legislative session can be found at capitol.texas.gov.