83rd Texas Legislature Regular Session update, April 16, 2013

CEC is sharing information during the session about what bills our member groups and readers are tracking. More information is available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.

The last day to file most bills was March 8, 2013. Yesterday, April 15, 2013, was first day a Senator might place five bills or resolutions on the Intent Calendar. The last day of the regular session is Monday, May 27, 2013. Learn more at www.legis.state.tx.us.

Let us know what you think about the senate bills that have been filed! Take a quick survey to let us know which senate bills are important to you–and why! We’ll let you know what our readers think. Click here to take survey.

Here is news from Adrian Shelley of Air Alliance Houston:

• HB 1694 – Farrar – Prohibits the disposal of certain electronic wastes at municipal solid waste facilities. This is an important step to keeping e-waste out of our landfills.
• HB 3609 and HB 3615 – Burnam – Two bills regulating the transportation of certain radioactive wastes. HB 3609 would create alternative preferred routes for transporting radioactive waste around large municipalities. HB 3615 would require notice to the county judge and local emergency responders of each county through which radioactive waste would pass.
• Other good house bills up for a hearing this week related to conservation or water management include: HB 1173 by Anchia, HB 2142 by Frullo, HB 2143 by Frullo, HB 2577 by Larson, HB 3604 by Burnam, HB 3605 by Burnam, and HB 3608 by Burnam.
• Finally, two problematic bills by Rep. Wayne Smith will probably be heard on the house floor this week.
  • HB 788 would require TCEQ, instead of EPA, to begin issuing greenhouse gas permits. This is important because it is time for TCEQ to issue these permits, but the bill is problematic because it exempts GHG permits form the contested case hearing process.
  • HB 1714 by Smith is a bad bill that would end the TCEQ’s compliance history program.Compliance history is a system by which good actors are rewarded and bad actors are penalized in the permitting and penalty processes. It is an effective system, and we should oppose this bill so that it can remain in place.

Other websites with updates on environmental legislation:

• The Texas Bottle Bill reports that HB 1473 has made it out of committee, but has not been placed on the calendar. To learn more about progress of the bill, visit www.texasbottlebill.com.
• H-GAC’s Natural Resources Advisory Council: Justin Bower, senior environmental planner, is providing briefings on proposed legislation related to air, water, land use, governance of natural resources, parks and natural areas, and energy issues. The briefings are updated on a weekly basis. Please note, these documents are intended as a summary of legislation and potential impacts, and are not intended to imply a stance or position on any bill. For all questions, contact Justin Bower at 713-499-6653. Briefing Document for All Natural Resources Legislation. (By category: Air Pollution and Climate, Energy, Governance, Land Use, Miscellaneous, Parks and Natural Areas,  Solid Waste, Water and Sewer Utilities, Water Conservation, Water Quality, Water Supply, Wildlife Management.)
• Public Citizen Texas VOX: http://texasvox.org/82nd-legislative-session/