88th Legislature Testimony

The Sierra Club stays involved with the Texas Legislature on issues that could affect the environment and Texans. Here you can find all of the Lone Star Chapter's recent testimony and comments on bills and issues during the 88th legislative session in 2023. You can also find our input on issues before the Legislative Budget Board and the Sunset Advisory Commission.

UPDATE: Special Session #4

Sierra Club Opposes HB 3. Nov 10, 2023.

UPDATE: Special Session #3

SB 6 (Huffman) Relating to an appropriation for border security operations. 30 Oct 2023.

HB 6 (Jetton): Relating to making an appropriation for the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure. Oct. 23, 2023

Table of Contents

Senate Energy Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development

Senate Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs Committee

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Senate Business & Commerce Committee

Senate Finance Committee

Senate Redistricting Committee

House Committee on Land and Resource Management

House Ways and Means Committee

House Calendars Committee

House Committee on Energy Resources

House Committee on Licensing and Regulation

House Committee on Natural Resources

House Committee on Environmental Regulation

House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence

House Committee on State Affairs

House Appropriations Committee

Legislative Budget Board

Sunset Advisory Commission

Conference Committees & Floor Sheets

 

SB 28 and SJR 75 (Perry): Relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board. May 24, 2023.

HB 1500 (Holland) Relating to the continuation and functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the functions of the independent organization certified for the ERCOT power region. May 23, 2023.

SB 1397 (Schwertner): Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. May 16, 2023.

SB 1648 (Parker): Relating to the centennial parks conservation fund. May 15, 2023.

HB 1: State Finances--Appropriations. May 2, 2023.

Senate Committees

Senate Committee on Energy Resources

SB 1050 (Hughes), Relating to the authority of a natural gas local distribution company to offer energy conservation programs. April 12, 2023.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development

SB 1302 (Geren): Relating to inspections and examinations by the Railroad Commission of Texas of certain sites and facilities conducted using unmanned aircraft. May 17, 2023.

HB 33 (Landgraf): Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating oil and gas operations within the State of Texas. May 17, 2023. May 17, 2023.

HB 4885 (Landgraf): Relating to programs established and funded under the Texas emissions reduction plan. May 17, 2023.

SB 1860 (Hughes): Relating to the adoption of a climate policy in a municipal charter. April 19, 2023.

SB 1397 (Schwertner): Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. March 29, 2023.

SB 502  (Hughes):  Relating to the treatment, recycling for beneficial use, or disposal of drill cuttings.  March 22, 2023.

SB 784  (Birdwell):  Relating to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in this state and the express preemption of local regulation of those emissions.  March 22, 2023.

SB 1114  (Hancock):  Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate the use or sale of a product for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions or conserving natural resources.  March 22, 2023.

Senate Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs Committee

SB 28 (Perry):  Relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.  March 20, 2023.

SB 1032 (Kolkhorst): Relating to oyster certificates of location; authorizing a fee. March 13, 2023.

SB 1047 (Perry): Relating to funding and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium. March 13, 2023.

Senate Committee on State Affairs

SB 175 (Middleton): Relating to the Use by a Political Subdivision of Public Funds for Lobbying Activities. March 13, 2023.

Senate Business & Commerce Committee

HB 5 (Hunter): Relating to agreements authorizing a limitation on taxable value on certain property to provide for the creation of jobs and the generation of state and local tax revenue; authorizing fees; authorizing a penalty.  May 18, 2023.

SB 2627 (Schwertner): Relating to funding mechanisms to support the construction, maintenance, and modernization of dispatchable electric generating facilities. May 2, 2023.

SB 2453 (Menendez)): Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the building products, materials, or methods used in the construction of residential or commercial buildings. April 18, 2023.

SB 1519 (King): Relating to electric utility weather emergency preparedness. April 18, 2023.

SB 1320 (Sparks): Relating to state agency review of adopted rules. April 18, 2023.

SB 258 (Eckhardt): Relating to Energy Efficiency Goals. April 13, 2023.

Letter, signed by more than 40 organizations, in support of stronger energy efficiency policies and goals.

SB 114 (Menendez): Relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power region. April 13, 2023.

SB 2110 (Johnson): Relating to the provision of natural gas by and rates charged by certain gas utilities. April 11, 2023. 

SB 1075 (King): Relating to facilities and construction machinery used to respond to power outages. April 11, 2023.

SB 814 (Burrows): Relating to state preemption of certain municipal and county regulation. April 4, 2023.

SB 624 (Kolkhorst), Relating to the permitting of renewable energy generation
facilities by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. March 28, 2023.

SB 1076 (King), Relating to the deadline for approving a certificate of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects. March 28, 2023.

SB 1212 (Johnson), Relating to the interconnection and integration of distributed energy resources.  March 28, 2023.

SB 1295 (Schwertner), Relating to the provision of information regarding distributed generation and certain electrical loads. March 28, 2023.

SB 1699 (Johnson), Relating to the participation of aggregated distributed energy resources in the ERCOT market. March 28, 2023.

SB 1751 (Kolkhorst), Relating to the regulation and tax treatment of facilities in the ERCOT power region that demand a large load of interruptible power. March 28, 2023.

Repower Texas: Costs too much and won’t solve our issues. March 23, 2023.

SB 6 (Schwertner/King): Relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Insurance Program and other funding mechanisms to support the construction and operation of electric generating facilities. March 23, 2023.

SB 7 (Schwertner/King) Relating to the reliability of the ERCOT power grid. March 23, 2023.

SB 1287 (King) Relating to the cost of interconnecting certain electric generation and energy storage facilities with the ERCOT transmission system. March 23, 2023.

SB 2010 (Schwertner/King)  Relating to reporting by the market monitor of potential manipulation of the wholesale electric market. March 23, 2023.

SB 2011 (Schwertner/King) Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to impose administrative penalties and enter into voluntary mitigation plans; increasing an administrative penalty. March 23, 2023.

SB 2012 (Schwertner/King) Relating to electricity services; increasing an administrative penalty. March 23, 2023.

SB 2014 (King/Schwertner) Relating to the legislature's goals for renewable electric generating capacity. March 23, 2023.

SB 2015 (King/Schwertner) Relating to the legislature's goals for electric generation capacity in this state. March 23, 2023.

SB 1002 (Schwertner):  Relating to the operation of electric vehicle charging stations.  March 21, 2023.

SB 1110 (Schwertner):  Relating to the authority of a municipality to transfer revenue of a municipal utility to the general fund of the municipality.  March 21, 2023.

SB 1001 (Schwertner) Relating to the regulation of electric vehicle supply equipment. March 14, 2023.

SB 1017 (Birdwell) Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate an energy source or engine. March 14, 2023.

SB 149 (Springer) Relating to the authority of a municipality to regulate statewide commerce. March 14, 2023.

SB 853 (Hancock): Relating to electricity service provided by certain municipally owned utilities. Mar 7, 2023.

Comments on the Public Utility Commission of Texas wholesale market changes (aka, "Performance Credit Mechanism). Feb 15, 2023.

Senate Finance Committee

SB 30 Comments: Supplemental Appropriations. Mar 8, 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Public Utility Commission of Texas. Feb 15, 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Feb 10, 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Texas Water Development Board. Feb 10, 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Railroad Commission Budget. Feb 10, 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Budget. Feb 10 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Please Increase Funding and Reporting for Energy Systems Laboratory, A Unit of TEES, By $1 Million. Feb. 7, 2023.

SB 1 Comments: Comptroller of Public Accounts: Fiscal Programs. Jan. 30, 2023.

Senate Redistricting Committee

Comments Against Unfair SB 375 Senate Redistricting Maps. Jan. 17, 2023. 

House Committees

House Committee on Land and Resource Management

HB 2409 (Reynolds): Relating to the residential and commercial building codes of municipalities. April 19, 2023.

HB 2408 (Reynolds): Relating to building codes applicable in the unincorporated areas of a county; authorizing a fee. April 19, 2023.

House Committee on Ways and Means

HB 5 (Hunter):  (Chapter 313 program): Relating to agreements to create jobs and to generate state and local tax revenue for this state. April 10, 2023.

HB 4429 (Landgraf): Relating to certain school district tax abatements for power system reliability projects. April 10, 2023.

House Calendars Committee

HB 2239 (Troxclair): Relating to municipal regulation of the removal of an Ashe juniper tree. April 3, 2023.

House Committee on Energy Resources

HB 4790 (Anchia), Relating to the provision of natural gas by and rates charged by certain gas utilities. April 3, 2023.

HB 3244 (Goldman), Relating to the operation of certain infrastructure during a weather emergency. April 3, 2023.

HB 4046 (Guillen), Relating to the reduction and plugging of orphaned oil and gas wells. April 3, 2023.

HB 4047 (Guillen), Relating to a study on uranium deposits in this state. April 3, 2023.

HB 2847 (Darby), Relating to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas over and a study of the upstream production, pipeline transportation, and storage of hydrogen. April 3, 2023.

House Committee on Licensing and Regulation

HB  3343 (King):  Relating to the regulation of electric vehicle supply equipment; requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees; authorizing an administrative penalty.  March 22, 2023.

House Committee on Natural Resources

HB 4119 (Guillen): Relating to procedural requirements for uranium mining production area authorizations.  April 3, 2023.

HB 3100 (Landgraf): Relating to the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure and vehicle grant program under the Texas emissions reduction plan. March 30, 2023.

HB 2214 (Landgraf): Relating to the allocation of Texas Emissions Reduction Plan funds..March 30, 2023.

HB 2263 (Darby), Relating to the authority of a natural gas local distribution company to offer energy conservation programs. March 27th, 2023

HB 1158 (Darby), Relating to advanced clean energy projects and certain other projects that reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide emissions. March 27th, 2023

HB 33 (Landgraf/Morales/Metcalf), Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating oil and gas operations within the State of Texas. March 27th, 2023

HB 1302 (Geren), Relating to inspections and examinations by the Railroad Commission of Texas of certain sites and facilities conducted using unmanned aircraft. March 27th, 2023

HB 618 (Darby), Relating to the treatment, recycling for beneficial use, or disposal of drill cuttings. March 27th, 2023

HB 2757 (Tepper):  Relating to funding and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium.  March 21, 2023.

HB 1565 (Canales):  Relating to the functions of the Texas Water Development Board and continuation and functions of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee.  March 21, 2023.

House Committee on Environmental Regulation

SB 471 (Springer): Relating to the investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain complaints. May 10, 2023.

HB 4144 (Zwiener): Relating to the regulation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the discharge of preproduction plastic. May 4, 2023.

HB 1351 (Hernandez): Relating to the distribution of funds designated for the low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program.  April 20, 2023.

HB 2502 (Reynolds ): Relating to the creation of an energy efficiency loan guarantee program. April 13, 2023.

HB 2211 (Landgraf):  Relating to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in this state and the express preemption of local regulation of those emissions. March 30, 2023.

HB 1505 (Bell/Holland/Goldman/Canales/Clardy) Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. March 23, 2023.

HB 1505 and other written testimony: TCEQ, EPA, TERP. March 16, 2023

House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence

HB 791 (Harrison): Relating to state agency review of adopted rules. April 19, 2023.

HB 1372 (Harris) Relating to the tort of public nuisance. March 15, 2023

House Committee on State Affairs

SB 2453 (Menendez): Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the building products, materials, or methods used in the construction of residential or commercial buildings. May 17, 2023.

SB 114 (Menendez): Relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power region. May 17, 2023.

SB 258 (Eckhardt): Relating to energy efficiency goals for electric utilities. May 17, 2023.

SB 1075 (King/Guillen):     Relating to facilities and construction machinery used to respond to power outages. May 15, 2023.

SB 853 (Hancock): Relating to electricity service provided by certain municipally owned utilities. May 15, 2023.

SB 2627 (Schwertner): rRelating to funding mechanisms to support the construction, maintenance, and modernization of dispatchable electric generating facilities. May 10, 2023.

SB 7 (Schwertner): Relating to the reliability of the ERCOT power grid. May 3, 2023.

HB 4789 (Anchia): Relating to the use of school buses and electricity by public schools. April 26, 2023.

HB 3078 (Hernandez): Relating to a program to provide assistance for certain retail electric customers. April 26, 2023.

HB 4930 (Craddick): Relating to the adoption of a climate policy in a municipal charter. April 19, 2023.

SB 2012 (Schwertner)/King): Relating to electricity services; increasing an administrative penalty.  April 19, 2023.

HB 3508 (Hernandez): Relating to the operation of electric vehicle charging stations. April 12, 2023.

HB 4811 (Anchia): Relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council to foster collaboration, coordination, and communication to enhance the state's energy efficiency performance; and strategically utilize the state's resources to optimize the benefits of energy efficiency programs.  April 5, 2023.

Getting more MW in Texas: HB 4832 (Hunter) /SB 7 (Schwertner), HB 4784 (Anchia) bill and SB 258 (Eckhardt), HB 4784 (Anchia) SB 114 (Menendez), HB 3312 (Hernandez) SB 2453 (Menendez), HB 3078 (Hernandez) HB 4099 (Bonnen), PUC-ERCOT,  HB 3387 (Hunter) SB 1699 (Johnson) HB 3239 (Hernandez), HB 973 (Zweiner), HB 4811 (Anchia); SB 2404 (Schwertner), HB 2502 (Reynolds) HB 3061 (Zwiener), HB 4836 (Hunter). March 31, 2023.

Specific suggestions on bills heard last week: HB 4821 and HB 4862, HB 4834 and HJR 180, HB 4831, HB 4832, HB 4836. March 31, 2023.

HB 4821 (Slawson): Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to impose administrative penalties and enter into voluntary mitigation plans; increasing an administrative penalty. March 29, 2023.

HB 4831 (Hunter): Relating to the implementation of a program to meet the reliability needs in the ERCOT power region. March 29, 2023.

HB 4832 (Hunter):  Relating to the reliability of the ERCOT power grid. March 29, 2023.

HB 4834 (Hunter): Relating to the use of the Texas energy reliability fund to finance construction of electric generating facilities in the ERCOT power region; authorizing fees. March 29, 2023.

HB 4836 (Hunter) Relating to the legislature's goals for natural gas generating capacity. March 29, 2023.

HB 4862 (Slawson): Relating to reporting by the market monitor of potential manipulation of the wholesale electric market. March 29, 2023.

HB 2374  (Landgraf/Darby/Manuel/Thimesch/Button):  Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate an energy source or engine.  March 22, 2023.

HB 1500 (Holland) Relating to the continuation and functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the functions of the independent organization certified for the ERCOT power region. March 15, 2023

HB 2127 (Burrows) Relating to state preemption of certain municipal and county regulation. March 15, 2023

Invited Testimony: "In considering wholesale market design, don’t forget the 'small stuff.'" Mar 1, 2023.

HB 92: Relating to the authority of a municipality, county, or property owners' association to prohibit or regulate certain activities on residence homestead property. Mar 1, 2023.

House Appropriations Committee

SB 30 (Huffman/Bonnen):  Relating to supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding appropriations.  March 20, 2023.

HB 1: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Feb 27, 2023.

HB 1: Railroad Commission of Texas. Feb 27, 2023.

HB 1: Texas Water Development Board. Feb 27, 2023.

HB 1: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Feb, 27, 2023.

HB 1: Comptroller of Public Accounts: Fiscal Programs. Feb. 21, 2023.

HB 1: Energy Systems Lab Funding. Feb 22, 2023.

HB 1: Public Utility Commission of Texas. Feb 22, 2023.

Legislative Budget Board Comments

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department budget proposal. Sept. 30, 2022. 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality budget proposal. Sept. 26, 2022. 

State Energy Conservation Office/Comptroller budget proposal. Sept. 26, 2022. 

Texas Railroad Commission budget proposal. Sept. 22, 2022.

Texas Water Development Board budget proposal. Sept. 22, 2022. 

Public Utility Commission of Texas budget proposal. Sept. 1, 2022

Sunset Advisory Commission

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) 

Joint Position on TCEQ Decision Document. Nov. 9, 2022. 

Updated Position on the TCEQ Sunset Review. July 22, 2022. 

Comments by Community Advocacy Organizations on the TCEQ Staff Report. June 22, 2022. 

Comments on the TCEQ Sunset Review Staff Report. June 17, 2022.

Public Utility Commission (PUC)

Initial Comments by Community Advocacy Organizations on the PUC, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). Oct. 14, 2022. 

Initial Comments on the Sunset Reviews of the PUC, ERCOT, and OPUC. July 22, 2022. 

Comments by Sierra Club on the Sunset Staff Report on OPUC, PUCT and ERCOT. Dec. 6, 2022.

Other Agencies

Comments on the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Sunset Review. April 27, 2022. 

Comments on the Texas Water Development Board Sunset Review. April 13, 2022.

Comments to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regarding oyster bay closures. Nov. 2, 2022.