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TX HB1682

Bill

Status

Introduced

12/20/2024

Primary Sponsor

Penny Morales Shaw

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

89th Legislature Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Creates the Special Environmental Remediation Fund as a dedicated fund in the state treasury, separate from general revenue, to support environmental cleanup projects

  • Requires one-half of the state's portion of civil penalties from environmental violation suits brought by local governments to be deposited into the new fund

  • Maintains existing penalty division structure where the first $4.3 million recovered is split equally between the state and the local government that brought the suit, with amounts exceeding $4.3 million going entirely to the state

  • Directs the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to establish and administer a grant program providing financial assistance to counties and municipalities for environmental remediation projects

  • Requires TCEQ to adopt rules establishing eligibility criteria, application procedures, evaluation criteria, grant amount guidelines, and compliance monitoring procedures for the grant program

  • Applies only to violations occurring on or after September 1, 2025

Legislative Description

Relating to the disposition and use of the state's portion of civil penalties recovered in suits brought by local governments for violations of certain laws under the jurisdiction of, or rules adopted or orders or permits issued by, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

State Finances

Last Action

Left pending in committee

5/1/2025

Committee Referrals

Environmental Regulation3/12/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available