Utility efficiency programs: SB 258 (Eckhardt) raises requirements for electric utilities to reduce electricity use by providing incentives to customers for efficient appliances, home weatherization and other programs. In a positive sign, of these bills, only SB 7 has gotten a hearing, where it received a poor reception by the Chairman and other committee members. It passed the House and is now waiting to be referred to a Senate committee.Īnti-renewable energy bills: A package of bills to assign onerous new fees and permitting requirements to renewable energy have passed the Senate – SB 7 (Schwertner), SB 624 (Kolkhorst), SB 1287 (King), SB 2014 (King), and SB 2015 (King). Texas Land and Water Conservation Fund: HB 3165 (Holland) would fund local, state and private parks, conservation easements, and other natural resource conservation measures. Charles Perry “used a last-minute bill substitution this week to quash the idea that Fairfield Lake State Park can be saved by circumventing a future developer’s water rights permit.” It appears legislative efforts to save the park may now be over, leaving the fate of the park to a hail mary effort by TPWD to convince the developer, Todd Interests, to sell their stake in the land to the state so the park can remain open. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly, but then Sen. Either amount would represent an historic investment in state park land acquisition, but we’re pushing for $1 billion.įairfield Lake State Park: HB 4757 (Orr) would help stop the closure of Fairfield Lake State Park by giving the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) power to stop withdrawals of the lake’s water. Assuming the bill passes the House, a conference committee between the two chambers will be named to decide the final amount going to state parks. The Senate version of the budget (SB 1) includes $500 million to fund the program, while the House amended SJR 74 to direct the Comptroller to transfer $1 billion to the program. The bills have passed out of the Senate and the House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee and are now awaiting a vote on the House floor.
Tan Parker) would create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, to buy land for more state parks. State Parks Land Acquisition: SB 1648 and SJR 74 (both by Sen. Here are some of the key bills that are still alive and kicking. It’s late in session and the vast majority of filed bills are now effectively dead (either because they never got a hearing or are too late in the process to have a chance of meeting key deadlines). The 88th session of the Texas Legislature ends on Monday, May 29.
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