The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission assesses state agency programs and functions regularly on a 10-year cycle. In the upcoming 88th legislative session, the Commission will be reviewing twenty-one state agencies and authorities to determine their mission and performances. Some of the agencies that will be reviewed include those in the energy sector such as the Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). Reviews will also impact other environmental agencies including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as well as the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). HillCo Partners will start sending reports out during this process as they kick off their review and public hearings which started in September of 2021 and will continue until January 2023 when HillCo Partners then begins to follow these recommendations as they move into the legislative process.
Details on Environmental Agencies Undergoing Sunset
The environmental agencies listed above as well as that State Water Implementation Fund, Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board have already submitted their self-evaluation reports. The upcoming hearing timeline is below along with agency links. Their self-evaluation reports along with previous reports from Sunset, a public input form, and the agency website can all be found at their respective agency links:
Sunset Public Hearing Tentative Meeting April 27
State Water Implementation Fund for Texas
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Sunset Public Hearing & Commission Decisions Tentative Meeting June 22
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (Public Hearing)
State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (Commission Decisions)
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (Commission Decisions)
Texas Water Development Board (Commission Decisions)
Sunset Commission Decisions Tentative Meeting October 12
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Sunset Public Hearing Tentative Meeting December 6 & 7
Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Office of Public Utility Counsel
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Sunset Commission Decisions Tentative Meeting December 6 & 7
Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Office of Public Utility Counsel
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Self-Evaluation Reports
Texas Water Development Board/State Water Implementation Fund for Texas
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Office of Public Utility Counsel
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Sunset Members and Terms
The Commission has five Senators, five Representatives, and two members of the public, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House. The position of chair rotates between the House and the Senate every two years.
Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) – Chair
2021 to 2025
Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
2019 to 2023
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville)
2019 to 2023
Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
2021 to 2025
Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster)
2021 to 2025
James “Jim” Lee (Houston)
Public Member
2021 to 2023
Rep. Justin Holland (R-Heath) – Vice Chair
Vice Chair
2021 to 2025
Rep. Keith Bell (R-Forney)
2021 to 2023
Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg)
2021 to 2025
Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches)
2021 to 2025
Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth)
2019 to 2023
Jeff Austin III (Jacksonville)
Public Member
2021 to 2023
