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86th Texas Legislature Updates: February 26, 2019

86th Texas Legislature Updates: February 26, 2019

Legislators continued to file bills for the 86th Texas Legislative Session. Bills of note include the notice of a radioactive substance release and reducing the volume of wastes disposed of in landfills by promoting conversion of plastics and other recoverable materials using pyrolysis and gratification process.

Of particular note is House Bill 1980, filed on February 19, 2019, by Representative Ron Reynolds. The Bill proposes the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council. The Bill states, “The council is established to study the impact of climate change on the health, safety, and welfare of the residence of this state.”

The Bill goes on to state, “The council shall conduct a study to: (1) assess the current and potential effects of climate change trends on the residences, natural resources, public health, and economy of this state; (2) estimate the costs to this state of adverse effects associated with climate change; (3) research measures for preventing or mitigating the effects of flooding, erosion, drought, and wildfires that may be caused worse by climate change; (4) recommend legislation or other regulations to minimize the adverse impact of climate change on this state.”

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 1953: Relating to relating to reducing the volume of wastes disposed of in landfills by promoting the beneficial conversion of plastics and other recoverable materials using pyrolysis and gasification processes.
  • HB 1958: Relating to the territory, powers, and administration of the Gulf Coast Water Authority.
  • HB 1963: Relating to contested case hearings conducted on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on matters involving municipal solid waste permits.
  • HB 1970: Relating to the additional tax imposed on land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land if a change in use of the land occurs.
  • HB 1978: Relating to the repeal of the additional ad valorem taxes imposed as a result of certain changes in the use of agricultural or open-space land.
  • HB 1980: Relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.
  • HB 2021: Relating to approval by voters prior to the issuance of revenue bonds by river authorities.
  • HB 2023: Relating to the use of money in the state water pollution control revolving fund.
  • 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 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 2203: Relating to notice of a radioactive substance release.
  • 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 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.

Bills Assigned to House Committees

  • Natural Resources
    • HB 481: Relating to the storage and recovery of water in a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.
    • HB 722: Relating to the development of brackish groundwater.
    • HB 723: Relating to a requirement that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality obtain or develop updated water availability models for certain river basins.
    • HB 724: Relating to the authorization by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the discharge, diversion, and transfer or other reuse of treated brackish groundwater and return flows derived from treated brackish groundwater.
    • HB 726: Relating to the regulation of groundwater.
    • HB 801: Relating to the establishment of a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on flood control infrastructure for Harris County.
    • HB 807: Relating to the state and regional water planning process.
    • HB 817: Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain areas of the Edwards Aquifer.
    • HB 1066: Relating to extensions of an expired permit for the transfer of groundwater from a groundwater conservation district.
  • Culture, Recreation, and Tourism
    • HB 488: Relating to the protection of public freshwater areas.
  • Environmental Regulation
    • HB 522: Relating to the consideration of the cumulative effects of air contaminant emissions in the emissions permitting process.
    • HB 654: Relating to the definition of “affected person” for purposes of a contested case hearing held by or for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding certain environmental permit applications.
    • HB 798: Relating to plot plan requirements for an application for a standard permit for a concrete batch plant issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
    • HB 825: Relating to the notice of intent to obtain an environmental permit sent to certain state legislators.
    • HB 856: Relating to local government prohibitions or restrictions on the sale or use of a container or package.
    • HB 893: Relating to the carcinogenic risk level used in the development of certain environmental remediation benchmarks.
    • HB 907: Relating to the penalty for failure to register certain aggregate production operations with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
    • HB 928: Relating to establishing the Texas Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study and address the impacts of climate change in this state.
    • HB 942: Relating to the creation and duties of the Global Climate Change Commission.
    • HB 944: Relating to the posting of notice of intent to obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at the site of the facility or proposed facility for which the permit is sought.
    • HB 990: 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.
    • HB 999: Relating to who may request a public hearing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality related to the construction of a concrete plant.
    • HCR 15: Urging the United States Congress to conduct a cost-benefit analysis regarding the risks of climate change and appropriate measures to address them.
  • Agriculture and Livestock
    • HB 792: Relating to the use of land in the William Goodrich Jones State Forest.
  • Ways and Means
    • HB 845: Relating to the eligibility of property used for a water desalination project for ad valorem tax benefits under the Texas Economic Development Act.
  • Energy Resources
    • HB 865: Relating to the maintenance of records concerning pipeline incidents.
  • Public Education
    • HB 997: Relating to testing for lead contamination in public school drinking water.
  • House Administration
    • HCR 24: Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House of Representatives to direct the appropriate house and senate committees to conduct an interim study regarding the feasibility of integrating the Northeast Texas Trail into the state park system.

Senate

Recently filed bills

  • SB 892: Relating to the exhaust emission systems of diesel-powered motor vehicles.
  • SB 894: Relating to the additional tax imposed on land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural, open-space, or timber land if the land is sold or diverted to a different use.
  • SB 911: Relating to the supervision of water districts by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  • SB 912: Relating to the suspension of operations of water districts that have failed to follow a court order or administrative directive by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  • SB 942: Relating to the use of money in the state water pollution control revolving fund.
  • SB 950: Relating to the definition of a commercial hazardous waste management facility.
  • SB 987: Relating to limitations on the location of solid waste facilities.
  • SB 1010: Relating to rules adopted by groundwater conservation districts overlying a common aquifer.
  • SB 1021: Relating to the operations of the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact waste disposal facility.
  • 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.

bills Assigned to Senate Committees

  • . Natural Resources and Economic Development
    • SB 531: Relating to sources of funding for the Texas emissions reduction plan.
    • SB 534: Relating to the notice of a hearing to adopt a proposed rule under the Texas Clean Air Act.
  • Water and Rural Affairs
    • SB 573: Relating to the definition of “affected person” for purposes of a contested case hearing held by or for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding certain environmental permit applications.

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