HB 2127 (Harris/Birdwell) Relating to the licensure and registration of persons engaged in certain activities pertaining to compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas containers and systems was signed by the Governor on 5/24. The bill amends the Natural Resources Code to remove the requirement that a person obtain a license from the RRC to engage in work that includes the manufacture, assembly, repair, testing, sale, installation, or subframing, of CNG cylinders or LNG containers. HB 2127 becomes effective on 9/1.
HB 2263 (Paddie/Hancock) Relating to the sale of electric power to certain public customers was signed by the Governor on 05/17 and the earliest effective date is also 05/17.
HB 2726 (Kuempel/Creighton) relating to the commencement of construction of a project following the issuance of a draft permit for a permit amendment to an air quality permit was sent to the Governor on 5/29. The bill revises the authorization for an applicant to commence construction, at their own risk, related to the Texas Clean Air Act before TCEQ has issued a permit.
HB 3745 (Bell/Birdwell) Relating to the Texas emissions reduction plan fund and account was sent to the Governor on 5/29. The bill would extend the sources of funding for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), which are set to expire on August 31, 2019 under current law. The bill would increase the administrative allocation funded from both the TERP Account and the TERP Fund from $8 to $16 million each year.
Water
HB 2452/SJR 79 (Lucio/Gonzalez) Relating to the provision by the Texas Water Development Board of financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas. The bill would amend the Texas Constitution to allow the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to issue additional general obligation bonds for the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP) account. TWDB could issue the bonds in amounts such that the aggregate principal amount of the bonds issued under the amended section that were outstanding at any time would not exceed $200 million. The ballot proposal would be presented to voters on the November 5, 2019 ballot and was signed by the Governor on 5/29. HB 2452 becomes effective immediately.
HB 720 (Larson/Perry) Relating to appropriations of water for use in aquifer storage and recovery projects was sent to the Governor on 5/26.
HB 721 (Larson/Perry) Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and recovery. The House concurred in Senate amendments on 5/24.
HB 722 (Larson/Perry) Relating to the development of brackish groundwater was sent to the Governor on 5/29.
HB 807 (Larson/Buckingham) Relating to the state and regional water planning process sent to the Governor on 5/24.
HB 1052 (Larson/Perry) Relating to the authority of the Texas Water Development Board to use the state participation account of the water development fund to provide financial assistance for the development of certain facilities was sent to the Governor on 5/26.