87th Texas Legislature Regular Session Pre-filed Bills: February 1-14, 2021
Bills filed between February 1-14, 2021, relate to the Sunset Advisory Commission and its consideration of climate change in its decision making, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, concrete plants, the establishment of the Texas Produced Water Consortium, the ERCOT power region, 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 February 1st to 14th, 2021.
Senate:
- SB 535: Relating to the criteria for review by the Sunset Advisory Commission of a state agency, to include considerations of climate change.
- SB 595: Relating to the designation of wind-powered energy device construction areas by certain counties.
- SB 601: Relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium.
- SB 665: Relating to the regulation of on-site sewage disposal systems on certain leased land that is owned by the federal government.
- SB 700: Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
House of Representatives:
- HB 1521: Relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated to the permanent university fund.
- HB 1533: Relating to the creation of an energy efficiency loan guarantee program under the Texas emissions reduction plan.
- HB 1534: Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee.
- HB 1544: Relating to the eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land if the land is temporarily used for sand mining operations; authorizing a fee.
- HB 1615: Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- HB 1627: Relating to the issuance of air quality permits for concrete plants located in certain areas.
- HB 1672: Relating to use of electric energy storage facilities in the ERCOT power region
- HB 1680: Relating to the regulation of on-site sewage disposal systems on certain leased land that is owned by the federal government.
- HB 1683: Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating oil and gas operations within the State of Texas.
- HB 1721: Relating to a study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of air contaminants in residential areas in certain counties.
- HB 1786: Relating to the issuance of air quality permits for concrete plants located in certain areas.
- HB 1820: Relating to the regulation, monitoring, and enforcement of matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; authorizing the assessment or increase of civil and administrative penalties.
- HB 1821: Relating to climate change planning and reporting.
- HB 1913: Relating to a requirement that an applicant for a permit to drill an oil or gas well submit a gas capture plan for the well.