87th Texas Legislature Regular Session Pre-filed Bills: November 9, 2020-January 11, 2021

Bills pre-filed in January prior to the start of the legislature on January 12, 2021, relate to energy efficiency goals, the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council, aggregate production operations, utilities, air quality permits, and more.

Monday, November 9, 2020, was the first day that Texas legislators and legislators-elect could begin filing bills for the upcoming regular session, which will last for 140 days from Tuesday, January 12, 2021 to Monday, May 31, 2021. Texas legislators may continue filing bills until Friday, March 12, 2021, which is the deadline for the unrestricted filing of bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and emergency matters submitted by the governor. The 87th Texas Legislature filed the following bills relating to environmental issues and regulations from January 1st to 11th, 2021. See bills pre-filed in November 2020 here.

Senate:

• SB 243: Relating to energy efficiency goals for electric utilities. This bill includes specific increasing goals for utility companies to save 1% of energy by the year 2025. FILED 12/14/2020

House of Representatives:

• HB 714: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The Council would include representatives appointed by leaders from the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, the Attorney General, Health and Human Services, and other offices. This bill would also establish a Environmental Justice Review Board, which would comprise of members from grassroots, non-profit, educational, business, or civil rights organizations. Filed 12/3/21
• HB 767: Relating to best management practices for aggregate production operations. The Commission’s website would be updated with information reflecting best management practices for production operations.
• HB 783: Relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife Department regarding wind-powered energy devices; providing a civil penalty. Would allow Parks and Wildlife Department to manage presence of wind-powered energy devices in a way that mitigates their disruption on protected lands.
• HB 806: Relating to nonsubmetered billing for water or wastewater service. This bill requires an increase in transparency to apartment dwellers regarding water and wastewater utility structures.
• HB 824: Relating to the exemption of certain property from municipal drainage service charges. Under this bill, individuals who are disabled veterans or members of the Armed Forces, or over 65 years of age would not have to pay service fees for municipal drainage.
• HB 884: Relating to local government regulations based on utility service type.
• HB 889: Relating to who may request a public hearing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality related to construction of a concrete plant. This would potentially expand who is allowed to request these hearings to include individuals who do not reside in permanent residences.
• HB 896: Relating to air quality permits issues by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. This would set new guidelines for how permits are issued, and suggest the use of incentive based programs to facilities who use best practices.
• HB 897: 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.