85th Texas Legislature Regular Session Update – February 21, 2017

The Texas Legislature has filed the following bills for consideration during Texas’ 85th legislative session. The session began on January 10, 2017. March 10, 2017, is the deadline for filing most bills. While the Legislature has begun referring bills to committees, the committees pertaining to environmental bills have not yet begun to meet. You can read more on the Texas Senate News page and on the Texas House of Representatives News page.

The Houston Chronicle published an informative article on Tuesday, “Bill would create alerts for chemical releases,” in which Air Alliance Houston’s Adrian Shelley is quoted.

Alliance for a Clean Texas (ACT) is an organization that promotes protecting the land, air, and water throughout the state of Texas.  Their website, as well as their weekly newsletters, are a great tool to learn more about current environmental issues, organizations that partner with the ACT, and current legislation updates. If you would like to sign up for their newsletter, click here! CEC member organizations that are part of the Alliance include Air Alliance Houston,  Environment Texas, Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, Texas Campaign for the Environment, and the Texas League of Conservation Voters.

Bills Assigned to a Committee

• HB 544: Natural Resources
• HB 572: Agriculture & Livestock
• HB 815: Environmental Regulation
• HB 838: Environmental Regulation
• HB 922: Natural Resources
• HCR 43: Natural Resources
• SB 675: Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs

Committee Meetings

• Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs will meet at 9:00 AM, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

House Bills

• HB 1920 – Relating to the Palo Duro River Authority, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.
• HB 1921 – Relating to the functions and territory of the Upper Colorado River Authority, following the recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.
• HB 1927 – Relating to an alert system for notification of the release of toxic chemicals by a manufacturing facility.
• HB 1931 – Relating to the duties of the State Energy Conservation Office regarding advanced clean energy project grants and loans and the creation of an inclusion task force for the energy industry.
• HB 1979 – Relating to the Texas emissions reduction plan and other related programs and measures to reduce emissions.
• HB 2004 – Relating to the Texas economic development fund for the Department of Agriculture.
• HB 2005 – Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and recovery.
• HB 2046 - Relating to the amount of the solid waste disposal fee and the allocation of revenue from that fee.
• HB 2052 - Relating to a tree planting credit to offset tree mitigation fees imposed by a municipality.
• HB 2086 - Relating to plot plan requirements for an application for a standard permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
• HB 2088 -Relating to the operating hours of concrete plants in certain counties issued a standard permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; amending a provision subject to a criminal penalty.
• HB 2092 - Relating to a prohibition of the land application of grit or grease trap waste.
• HB 2125 - Relating to the establishment of a program for the collection, transportation, and recycling of architectural paint.
• HB 2127 - Relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to regulate certain water wells.
• HB 2136 - Relating to flood control storage requirements established by the Fort Bend County Drainage District.
• HB 2140 - 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 and illegal dumping in communities.
• HB 2174 -Relating to the regulation of motor fuel quality and motor fuel metering devices.
• HB 2180 - Relating to the Sulphur River Basin Authority, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Committee.
• HB 2204 - Relating to the requirements for construction contracts for certain water supply projects, treatment works, and flood control measures.
• HB 2212 - Relating to weight limitations for natural gas motor vehicles.
• HB 2215 - Relating to the adoption of desired future conditions for aquifers in groundwater management areas and the consideration of those conditions in the regional water planning process.
• HB 2219 - Relating to the eligibility of property used for a water desalination project for ad valorem tax benefits under the Texas Economic Development Act.

Senate Bills

• SB 898 – Relating to the ownership and local regulation of trees and timber.
• SB 960 - Relating to the regulation of prescribed burning by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Common Authors & Counties they Represent

• Bonnen, Greg – Galveston (Part)
• Kolkhorst, Lois – Brenham
• Lucio III, Eddie – Cameron (Part)
• Perry, Charles – Lubbock
• Phillips, Larry – Delta, Fannin, Grayson
• Seliger, Kel – Amarillo
• Rodriguez, Jose – El Paso
• Workman, Paul – Travis (Part)