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86th Texas Legislature Updates: February 19, 2019

86th Texas Legislature Updates: February 19, 2019

Legislators continued to file bills for the 86th Texas Legislative Session. Bills of note pertain to state park funding, public comment, greenhouse gas emissions, concrete batch plants, and air quality permits.

We’d like to draw your attention to four bills relating to single-use plastic bags. Over the past few years, several cities in Texas has passed plastic bag regulations. However, a recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court has called these regulations into question.

  • Senate Bill 816, filed on February 13, 2019 by Senator Judith Zaffirini, relates to the regulation of disposable plastic bag use by certain municipalities. The bill states, “A municipality with a population of less than 300,000 that holds a Phase I municipal separate storm sewer system permit from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may adopt an ordinance prohibiting or restricting the use of disposable plastic bags…”
  • Senate Bill 648, Senate Bill 777, and House Bill 856. These bills realte to local government prohibitions or restrictions on the sale or use of a container or package.

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.

We’d love to know what bills you are watching. Send an email to madeline.bell@cechouston.org.

House of Representatives

Recently filed bills

  • HB 1764: Relating to the location of hearings relating to contested cases before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  • HB 1804: Relating to public comments on matters subject to a hearing under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  • HB 1824: Relating to use of funds collected by the Parks and Wildlife Commission from the sale of certain materials.
  • HB 1868: Relating to the creation of the Texas Rural Water Advisory Council.

Bills Assigned to House Committees

  • Sate Affairs
    • HB 223: Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee.
  • Environmental Regulation
    • HB 225: Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities.
    • HB 286: Relating to promotion of the use of recyclable materials as feedstock for manufacturing.

Senate

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.

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