State Legislative Session Accomplishments
Funding Recycling and Waste Reduction Programs
We succeeded in amending the final version of HB 7 (Darby) to include an important annual report requirement so Texans will be able to learn how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is spending money allocated for waste management, waste reduction and recycling programs. Up until now, the state agency has never had to report what this funding was going towards. In addition, the TCEQ is no longer allowed to spend these funds on vague “support related activities,” which can mean just about anything.
We also succeeded in convincing the State to examine its electronics purchasing policies and track how much is spent to purchase EPEAT-rated electronics (an environmental ranking system similar to Energy Star). This new policy will be implemented even though the accompanying legislation, HB 3688 (Naishtat), did not actually pass. When a state as large as Texas agrees to purchase environmentally friendly electronics, it drives the entire industry in the right direction.
Market-Based Solutions to Reduce Air Pollution
We played a supporting role in helping pass SB 1727 (Deuell) to allocate more funding for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program. The money for this program comes from industry and consumer fees, not taxpayers, yet lawmakers have often let its funding sit unused. Putting more of the existing funding into the program will help improve our air quality in many parts of Texas that badly need it.
Giving Municipal Ratepayers a Say in Their Utility
We led efforts to stop HB 410 (Watson), which would have allowed the City of Austin to make dramatic changes to the Austin Energy public utility without ever submitting the decision to voters as the city’s charter allows. We helped defeat the push to transfer governance of our energy utility to an unelected, unaccountable board, and we kept more control in the hands of residents.
Protect Air, Water, Property Rights
We significantly contributed to the defeat of SB 957 (Fraser) [: it] would have eliminated the rights of residents, businesses and local governments to challenge polluting facilities before a neutral law judge. These hearings are crucial to ensure that communities have complete and accurate information when approving pollution permits.
Local Issues, Local Control
We led successful efforts to stop HB 2416 (Springer), which would have pre-empted any and all local ordinances addressing single-use bag pollution. Local governments are the ones paying for the problems single-use bags create, so they should have the ability to pass ordinances to address the problem as they see fit.
We also helped defeat HB 1496 (Taylor), which would have prevented municipalities from adopting or enforcing any local ordinances governing gas drilling (or “fracking”) sites, and HB 2828 (Dale), which would have done the same for gas pipelines, compressor stations and processing facilities.
Responsible Liquid Waste Rules
We organized and led the fight to stop HB 2996 (T. King) which would have weakened environmental standards for handling liquid waste materials such as grease trap and portable toilet waste.