85th Texas Legislature First Called Session Update – 8/1/2017

So far, in the first called session of the 85th Legislature,  bills have passed through their designated committees and some have even passed in their respective chambers. One bill that has been progressing quickly is Senate Bill 14 which relates to a property owner’s right to remove trees or vegetation. House Bill 7, which would create a tree planting credit to offset a tree mitigation fee, has also moved quickly through the House. Other bills, however, have been filed but not assigned to any committees.

You can read more on the Texas Senate News page and on the Texas House of Representatives News page.

Update:

Business and Commerce

• SB 14 – Hall, Bob
  • Passed by Business and Commerce Committee- 7/24
  • Passed by Senate- 7/26
  • Received by House of Representatives – 7/27

Natural Resources

The following bills moved out of the Natural Resources Committee on July 31st.

• HB 26 – Larson, Lyle
• HB 27 – Larson
• HB 226 – Larson
• HB 228 – Larson
• HB 230 – Larson
• HB 275 – Ashby, Trent
• HB 277 – Larson

Urban Affairs

• HB 7 – Phelan, Dade
  • Passed by Urban Affairs Committee 7/26
  • Passed by House of Representatives 7/28
  • Received by the Senate 7/31
• HB 70 – Workman, Paul
  • Pending in committee- 7/25

Agriculture and Livestock

The Agriculture and Livestock Committee will hold a public hearing on August 2nd for the following bills:

• HB 103 – Stephenson, Phil
• HB 223 – Springer, Drew

State Affairs

• HB 199 – Pickett, Joe C. 
  • Sent to committee 7/20

Environmental Regulation

• HB 276 – Thompson, Senfronia
  • Pending in committee- 7/26

The following Senate bills have been filed but no further action has been taken:

• SB 48 – Schwertner, Charles and Buckingham, Dawn
• SB 49 - Schwertner, Charles and Buckingham, Dawn
• SB 78 –  Nichols, Robert
• SB 86 – Campbell, Donna
  

The following bills have been filed during the 85th Legislature special session and relate to environmental issues.

House Bills

• HB 7 - Relating to a tree planting credit to offset tree mitigation fees imposed by a municipality.
• HB 26 -  Relating to the regulation of groundwater.
• HB 27 -  Relating to the development of brackish groundwater.
• HB 70 -  Relating to a property owner’s right to remove a tree or vegetation.
• HB 103 - Relating to the disposal of pesticides.
• HB 199 -  Relating to the authority of an electric utility to impose a rate or charge on an owner of solar or wind electric generation.
• HB 223 -  Relating to the eligibility of land used as an ecological laboratory for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
• HB 226 -  Relating to the state and regional water planning process.
• HB 228 -  Relating to appropriations of water for use in aquifer storage and recovery projects.
• HB 230 - Relating to the use of money in the state water pollution control revolving fund.
• HB 275 -  Relating to extensions of an expired permit for the transfer of groundwater from a groundwater conservation district.
• HB 276 -  Relating to an assessment of the safety and regulation of municipal solid waste facilities.
• HB 277 -  Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and recovery.

Senate Bills

• SB 14 -  Relating to a property owner’s right to remove a tree or vegetation.
• SB 48 - Relating to liability for the additional tax imposed on land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural land if the use of the land changes as a result of a condemnation.
• SB 49 - Relating to liability for interest if land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural or open-space land is sold or diverted to a different use.
• SB 78 –  Relating to the eligibility of land used as an ecological laboratory for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.
• SB 86 - Relating to the local regulation of trees and timber.