84th Texas Legislature Regular Session update, March 16, 2015

Last week was a busy week for legislators, as they rushed to beat the deadline for filing most bills. We haven’t made it all the way through the list of bills that were filed to create the list of bills related to the environment, but here’s a start. Look for the rest within the next week.

You can read more on the Texas Senate News page, the Texas House of Representatives News page, and from the Texas Tribune. (If you have a favorite source of info, please share!)

House Bills

HB 20: Relating to the operations of and transportation planning and expenditures by the Texas Department of Transportation and local transportation entities.
HB 2570: Relating to the incorporation of climate and precipitation forecasts in state, regional, and local water planning.
HB 2571: Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of state agencies.
HB 2581: Relating to governmental actions affecting private property rights in certain oil and gas wells.
HB 2582: Relating to the transfer of certain powers and duties related to endangered species from the comptroller to the commissioner of agriculture.
HB 2598: Relating to the consideration of steel slag as solid waste by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
HB 2601: Relating to voting eligibility requirements for members of a metropolitan planning organization policy board.
HB 2611: Relating to repayment of money contributed by the Texas Department of Transportation or the Texas Transportation Commission for toll projects.
HB 2612: Relating to a report to the legislature regarding the elimination of toll roads.
HB 2627: Relating to creation of a task force to study population growth in the state.
: Relating to a limitation on the authority to curtail groundwater production from wells used for power generation or mining.
HB 2654: Relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to regulate certain water wells.
HB 2672: Relating to the powers of a public utility agency; authorizing fees and charges; granting the power of eminent domain.
HB 2685: Relating to the operations of and transportation planning and expenditures by the Texas Department of Transportation and local transportation entities.
HB 2686: Relating to the provision and use of certain transportation funding, including the allocation of certain revenue from the taxes imposed on the sale or use of motor vehicles.
HB 2688: Relating to a common characteristic or use project in a public improvement district in certain municipalities.
HB 2702: Relating to an alternative composition of a board of directors of a regional mobility authority.
HB 2715: Relating to the confidentiality of certain information related to the operation of a municipally owned utility.
HB 2736: Relating to prohibiting the temporary closure of segments of the state highway system on days that certain scheduled events are being held.
HB 2737: Relating to the allocation of certain motor fuels tax revenue.
HB 2745: Relating to the frequency restrictions on charitable raffles.
HB 2746: Relating to the treatment for ad valorem tax purposes of pollution control property.
HB 300: Relating to the allocation to the Parks and Wildlife Department of the proceeds from taxes imposed on the sale, storage, or use of sporting goods.
HB 2763: Relating to a study of economically recyclable materials, economic impacts to the state and local governments of existing and increased recycling, the development of new markets for recycled materials and any infrastructure needs, and the potential to increase state revenues.
HB 2767: Relating to the powers, duties, and administration of groundwater conservation districts.
HB 2769: Relating to the date of expiration of a certain pilot revolving loan program established under the loanstar revolving loan program to provide for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology for certain organizations.
HB 2784: Relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate camping on public beaches.
HB 2788: Relating to the authority of a retail public water utility to require an operator of a correctional facility to comply with water conservation measures.
HB 2805: Relating to the priority applicable to certain interbasin transfers of water.
HB 2828: Relating to background checks for certain municipal and county employees and volunteers.
HB 2853: Relating to the municipal sales and use tax for street maintenance.
HB 2855: Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to prohibit an activity over which the Railroad Commission of Texas has jurisdiction.
HB 2866: Relating to eligibility for and allocation of grants from the transportation infrastructure fund.
HB 2871: Relating to permit application requirements for solid waste facilities.
HB 2879: Relating to a study by the General Land Office regarding the feasibility of creating a mechanism by which a governmental entity could acquire small parcels of real property in an area and convey them to a developer in order to ensure the property is developed in compliance with model subdivision rules.
HB 2887: Relating to the definition of a “Navigable stream”.
HB 2892: Relating to the procedure by which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may designate a watercourse as navigable.
HB 2901: Relating to the filing of a complaint with the Railroad Commission of Texas.
HB 2932: Relating to a study and report by the Bureau of Economic Geology on land shifting.
HB 2988: Relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt certain rules related to ratemaking procedures and to the status of previously adopted rules.
HB 2989: Relating to the establishment of a publicly accessible database containing information on materials and products used in the construction of wastewater projects.
HCR 74: Directing the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to support the creation of a model water recycling project in an appropriate location.
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www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/Report.aspx?ID=filingDate&LegSess=84R&Code=3/11/2015

SB 1067: Relating to a study of economically recyclable materials, economic impacts to the state and local governments of existing and increased recycling, the development of new markets for recycled materials and any infrastructure needs, and the potential to increase state revenues.
SB 1069: Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property used to collect, process, and deliver landfill-generated gas.
SB 1079: Relating to the regulation of water well drillers and water well pump installers; affecting fees.
SB 1089: Relating to meetings of the board of directors of a regional mobility authority.
SB 1101: Relating to the authority to determine the supply of groundwater in certain regional water plans.
SB 1118: Relating to the cost of goods sold for purposes of the franchise tax for certain zoos and aquariums.
SB 1121: Relating to the authority of a public utility agency to provide water and sewer service and enter into contracts.
SB 1122: Relating to a limitation on the authority to curtail groundwater production from wells used for power generation or mining.
SB 1132: Relating to the protection and use of certain products, information, and technology of the Parks and Wildlife Department.
SB 1144: Relating to intermunicipal commuter rail districts.
SB 1148: Relating to the functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas in relation to the economic regulation of water and sewer service.
SB 1150: Relating to the repeal of the enabling legislation for regional mobility authorities.
SB 1152: Relating to meetings of the board of directors of a regional mobility authority.
SB 1155: Relating to prohibition of certain regulations by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision.
SB 1165: Relating to the express preemption of regulation of oil and gas operations and the exclusive jurisdiction of those operations by the state.
SB 1181: Relating to an interim study concerning this state’s noncommercial hunting and fishing license systems.
SB 1182: Relating to the use of money in the state highway fund for toll projects.
SB 1183: Relating to authorizing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to enter into certain contracts with private vendors.
SB 1184: Relating to an audit of regional mobility authorities conducted by the state auditor.
SB 1194: Relating to the regulation of metal recycling entities; imposing an administrative penalty; creating a criminal offense.SB 1204: Relating to a waiver of fees by the Department of Agriculture and the Parks and Wildlife Department for certain educational programs involving aquaculture and hydroponics.
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