83rd Texas Legislature Regular Session, February 18, 2013

CEC is sharing information during the session about what bills our member groups and readers are tracking. More information is available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.

As of February 18, 2013, 879 bills have been filed by the Senate and 2008 bills have been filed by the House. Learn more at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/General.aspx. Other helpful links:

• Texas Senate Week in Review
• Texas House Committee Schedules

The following are bills (SB=Senate Bill, HB=House Bill, and HJR=House Joint Resolution) which may be of interest to the region’s environmental community and which have been filed in the past week:

• SB 507: Relating to public and private facilities and infrastructure.
• SB 513: Relating to the regulation of saltwater pipelines by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• SB 514: Relating to the installation, maintenance, operation, and relocation of saltwater pipeline facilities.
• SB 533: Relating to a review of cost savings to state agencies and institutions of higher education under energy savings performance contracts.
• SB 535: Relating to exemptions from the sales and use tax for certain energy-efficient products.
• SB 536: Relating to regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
• SB 552: Relating to an application filed with a county commissioners court to revise a subdivision plat; authorizing a fee.
• SB 565: Relating to the accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, children, senior citizens, users of public transportation, movers of commercial goods, and motorists on streets and highways.
• SB 567: Relating to rates for water service, to the transfer of functions relating to the economic regulation of water and sewer service from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and to the duties of the Office of Public Utility Counsel regarding the economic regulation of water service.
• SB 572: Relating to the sale and purchase of shark fins or products derived from shark fins; creating an offense.
• SB 584: Relating to a volume-based exemption from reporting requirements for accidental discharges or spills from wastewater facilities.
• SB 585: Relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue to enhance and upgrade sports facilities in certain municipalities.
• SB 602: Relating to retail electric provider customer choice information.
• SB 603: Relating to the revocation and reinstatement of an end user number for purposes of purchasing dyed diesel fuel.
• SB 611: Relating to the irrigation powers and functions of certain water districts.
• SB 614: Relating to an electric utility surcharge to assist owners of certain historic structures with electric bill payments and to promote energy conservation and efficiency.
• SB 617: Relating to the regulation of energy efficiency professionals; providing penalties; authorizing a fee.
• SB 619: Relating to exclusion of land from certain water districts that fail to provide service to the land.
• SJR 31: Proposing a constitutional amendment limiting the uses of revenue from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, and certain revenue received from the federal government.
• HB 1189: Relating to interstate cooperation to address regional water issues.
• HB 1208: 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.
• HB 1214: Relating to the irrigation powers and functions of certain water districts.
• HB 1235: Relating to the operation of certain swimming pools by certain populous municipalities.
• HB 1241: Relating to the adoption of rules by the Parks and Wildlife Commission to protect the public water of this state.
• HB 1250: Relating to the initial use of certain properties acquired for a public use.
• HB 1274: Relating to the authority of certain transportation authorities to create a local government corporation.
• HB 1288: Relating to a credit or refund for diesel fuel taxes paid on diesel fuel used in this state by auxiliary power units or power take-off equipment.
• HB 1289: Relating to the exclusion of certain transportation services costs in determining total revenue for purposes of the franchise tax.
• HB 1290: Relating to the authority for local governments to jointly administer transportation reinvestment zones.
• HB 1293: Relating to the authority of a county to regulate the connection of electric service in the unincorporated area of the county.
• HB 1306: Relating to the eligibility of land for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
• HB 1307: Relating to rates for water service, to the transfer of functions relating to the economic regulation of water and sewer service from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and to the duties of the Office of Public Utility Counsel regarding the economic regulation of water service.
• HB 1309: Relating to authorizing a credit representing motor fuels taxes against, and imposing, a mileage tax and to the use of revenue from that tax; providing penalties.
• HB 1315: Relating to annual reports regarding federal funding for state agencies.
• HB 1317: Relating to directing certain surplus revenue to water infrastructure funding.
• HB 1325: Relating to the dismissal of certain actions arising from exposure to asbestos and silica.
• HB 1336: Relating to funding for state and county roads affected in areas of increased energy production.
• HB 1339: Relating to the authority of certain water districts to hold meetings by teleconference or videoconference.
• HB 1345: Relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to regulate certain water wells.
• HB 1346: Relating to the collection and recycling of computer and television equipment by certain retailers; providing for the imposition of administrative penalties.
• HB 1362: Relating to implementation of a pilot program under the loanstar revolving loan program to promote the use of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology by certain nonprofit organizations.
• HB 1363: Relating to certain required reports and other documents prepared by state agencies and institutions of higher education.
• HB 1377: Relating to the ownership and local regulation of trees and timber.
• HB 1382: Relating to the regulation of food prepared, stored, distributed, or sold at farms and farmers’ markets; limiting the applicability of a fee.
• HB 1414: Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to provide sewer service to areas within the municipal boundaries without obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.