During the regular session, the Legislature considered a total
of 9,338 bills and resolutions. A total of 1,591 bills, excluding
resolutions, were enacted by both the House and Senate. The Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) monitored more than 600
bills that had the potential to affect the agency or its
operations. Of this total, 192 bills passed that impact the agency
and will require either rule making, revisions to guidance
documents, operational or procedural changes or some type of
administrative action within the agency.
The 79th Legislative Session Wrap-up report summarizes
legislation that passed during the regular session that is of
interest to the agency, either impacting agency programs, its
employees or agency stakeholders.
Legislative Summaries: 79th
Legislature
The Legislative Implementation table from the 79th Regular
Session provides TCEQ contact and schedule information on
legislation that will impact the agency.
Legislative
Implementation: 79th Legislature
Examples of some of the more significant initiatives approved by
the Legislature that impact the agency include:
- Extension of the Texas Emission Reduction Program to increase
funding for grants in the air quality non-attainment areas for
reduction of diesel emissions (HB 2481).
- Extension of the Petroleum Storage Tank Reimbursement Program
to provide storage tank owners additional opportunity to close
leaking tank sites (SB 485/HB 1987).
- Revisions to the Dry Cleaner Remediation Program created by the
78th Legislature in 2003 (HB 2376/SB 444).
- Amendment of the Commission's authority to grant franchises to
water utilities for designated service areas through Certificates
of Convenience and Necessity (HB 2876).
- Designation of a portion of the Brazos River Basin within which
enhanced permitting requirements and controls would be applied to
mining and quarrying operations to assess the impact of more
stringent regulations on water quality and preservation of habitat
(SB 1354).
- Regulation and permitting of a commercial industrial solid
waste facility connected to a publicly owned treatment works
facility (SB 1281).
The Legislature also considered Senate Bill 3 — a broad
water resource policy proposal that addressed a number of issues,
including surface water environmental flows, management of the
Edwards Aquifer, the operation and authority of groundwater
districts, water conservation, and financing of water
infrastructure. However, Senate Bill 3 did not pass during the
regular session.
The Commission will be initiating the necessary actions to
implement all legislation described here that requires rule making
or other changes to agency operations. Any questions concerning
legislation affecting the TCEQ can be directed to the
Intergovernmental Relations Division at (512) 239-3500.
