Texas Legislative Process Overview

The Texas Legislature meets in Austin every odd-numbered year (from January through May) to pass new laws. All legislation must undergo at least one public hearing in both a House and Senate committee before it can be passed into law. These hearings are the key opportunities for input to be provided to policymakers. Legislative committee hearings are held intensively from January through May of odd numbered years and periodically outside of these regular sessions, as scheduled by the committee chairs.

This site is intended to provide links to and highlights of important water and environmental bills TACWA is tracking. TACWA actively tracks state legislation and testifies as appropriate through collaboration between our Executive Director Julie Nahrgang, WEAT President and leadership, and WEAT Knowledge Committees. Scroll down for TACWA's Bill Tracking Table.

Texas State Legislature - Key Dates for 2020-2021

  • November 3, 2020 - General Election (local, state, and federal races)
  • January 12, 2021 - Texas legislature convenes, start of the 87th Legislative Session
  • May 31, 2021 - Last day of regular Texas legislative session (Governor can add special sessions to allow more time to pass legislation)

Texas 86th Legislature Interim Reports

Texas 86th Legislature Interim Charges

Members are charged with gathering information and reporting back on assigned topics while not in session.

87th Session High Priority Water Quality Bills

Bill
Summary
Comments
HB 70

Swanson, Valoree

Relating to legislative review and approval of certain state agency rules.

In committee

HB 152

Buckley, Brad

Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of groundwater conditions in certain counties.

In committee

HB 186

Zwiener, Erin

Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the portion of the appraised value of a person's property that is attributable to the installation in or on the property of certain water conservation systems.

In committee

HB 242

Zwiener, Erin

Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to require water pollution abatement plans from certain facilities regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas.

In committee

HB 271

Murr, Andrew

Relating to the procedure by which a state agency may issue an opinion that a watercourse is navigable.

In committee

HB 303

Collier, Nicole

Relating to testing for lead contamination in public school drinking water.

In committee

HB 327

Howard, Donna

Relating to the Internet broadcast or audio recording of certain open meetings.

Out of committee, voted favorably

Relating to a requirement to make certain environmental and water use permit applications available online.

In committee

HB 355

Lopez, Ray

Relating to providing notice to a state representative and senator of an administrative penalty assessed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In committee

Relating to the regulation by the Texas Department of Transportation of right-of-way landscaping installed by utilities.

Filed 11/10/2020; Companion Bill HB 2312

HB 531

Walle, Armando

Relating to notice requirements for a leased dwelling located in a floodplain.

Out of committee, voted favorably

HB 605

Gervin-Hawkins, Barbara

Relating to the adoption of a healthy and safe school water plan by public schools.

In committee

HB 634

Morales, Eddie

Relating to the type of newspaper required for the publication of notices by governmental entities or representatives in certain counties.

In committee

HB 711

Perez, Mary Ann

Relating to performance standards for certain aboveground storage tanks.

In committee

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Filed 12/3/2020; Companion Bill HB 1491

HB 749

Middleton, Mayes

Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.

In committee

HB 768

Patterson, Jared

Relating to the requirement that certain governmental bodies make audio and video recordings of open meetings available on the Internet.

In committee

HB 806

Gates, Gary

Relating to nonsubmetered billing for water or wastewater service.

In committee

Relating to changes to an application for an environmental permit before a contested case hearing on the application.

Filed 12/17/2020; Companion Bill HB 1006

HB 964

Darby, Drew

Relating to the treatment, recycling for beneficial use, or disposal of drill cuttings.

In committee

HB 966

Burns, DeWayne

Relating to the award of attorney's fees and other costs in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.

In committee

Relating to public comments on matters subject to a hearing under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In committee

Relating to the definition of "affected person" for purposes of a contested case hearing held by or for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding certain environmental permit applications.

Filed 1/5/2021; Companion Bills HB 654 and SB 573

HB 975

Dutton Jr., Harold

Relating to the notice of intent to obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In committee

HB 1030

Shaheen, Matt

Relating to the publication of required notice by a political subdivision by alternative media.

In committee

HB 1032

Thierry, Shawn

Relating to certain public school workforce training programs funded by the skills development fund and to authorizing school districts to provide funding using money received under the Foundation School Program.

Filed 1/8/2021

HB 1044

Anchia, Rafael

Relating to establishing the Texas Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study and address the impacts of climate change in this state.

In committee

HB 1143

Ramos, Ana-Maria

Relating to the publication of pathogen-related freshwater data by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

In committee

HB 1191

Goodwin, Vikki

Relating to the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice within the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In committee

HB 1289

Reynolds, Ron

Relating to notice of certain accidental discharges or spills to local government officials by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In committee

HB 1322

Shaheen, Matt

Relating to a summary of a rule proposed by a state agency.

Out of committee, voted favorably

HB 1606

Talarico, James

Relating to the construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and removal of dams by the Upper Bushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District.

In committee

HB 1866

Lucio III, Eddie

Relating to certain reports created by the Texas Water Development Board.

In committee

HB 1904

Harris, Cody

Relating to the use of the water infrastructure fund.

In committee

HB 1949

Crockett, Jasmine

Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.

In committee

HB 1956

Beckley, Michelle

Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.

In committee

HB 2019

Hefner, Cole

Relating to a study of the conversion of surface mine pits and quarries to water storage reservoirs in order to enhance this state's available water supply.

In committee

HB 2038

Talarico, James

Related to lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities.

In committee

HB 2095

Wilson, Terry

Relating to water research conducted by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.

In committee

HB 2148

Stephenson, Phil

Relating to notice of contamination of a public water supply to certain water providers by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

In committee

HB 2224

Bell, Cecil

Relating to rates established by municipalities for water and sewer services.

In committee

HB 2268

Paul, Dennis

Relating to disconnection notices for water and sewer service.

In committee

HB 2275

Zwiener, Erin

Relating to critical infrastructure resiliency and financing.

In committee

HB 2350

Zwiener, Erin

Relating to financial assistance provided to political subdivisions by the Texas Water Development Board for nature-based water quality enhancement projects.

In committee

HB 2368

Morales Shaw, Penny

Relating to the participation by local governments in water quality control measures.

In committee

HB 2426

Murr, Andrew

Relating to water quality protection areas.

In committee

HB 2580

Leach, Jeff

Relating to the operation and administration of the State Office of Administrative Hearings, including procedures during a declared disaster and the use of videoconferencing technology to conduct administrative hearings.

In committee

HB 3096

Burrows, Dustin

Relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium.

In committee

HB 4146

King, Tracy

Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain stream segments or assessment units.

Filed 3/12/2021

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for legislative review or approval of state agency rules.

Filed 11/9/2020; Companion Resolutions HJR 88 and HJR 149

HJR 103

Zwiener, Erin

Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the water infrastructure resiliency fund and the critical infrastructure resiliency fund to assist in the financing of certain infrastructure projects.

In committee

SB 126

Johnson, Nathan

Relating to performance standards for certain aboveground storage tanks.

In committee

SB 152

Perry, Charles

Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts.

In committee

SB 234

Hall, Bob

Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.

In committee

SB 306

Eckhardt, Sarah

Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.

In committee

SB 307

Eckhardt, Sarah

Relating to the transmission of water across two or more county lines for the purpose of providing wholesale water service.

Filed 1/11/2021

Relating to notice requirements for leased residential property, manufactured home lots, or commercial property located in a flood zone.

Filed 1/11/2021; Companion Bills HB 970 and SB 640

Relating to the award of grants by the Texas Workforce Commission to facilitate the participation of certain veterans and military personnel in apprenticeship training programs.

In committee

SB 366

Miles, Borris

Relating to the minimum amount of an administrative penalty assessed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a violation of certain laws.

In committee

SB 531

Kolkhorst, Lois

Relating to the use of the water infrastructure fund.

In committee

SB 601

Perry, Charles

Relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium.

In committee

SB 669

Springer, Drew

Relating to certain reports by the Texas Water Development Board.

In committee

SB 772

Nichols, Robert

Relating to the location of pits used in the production of oil and gas.

In committee

SB 817

Gutierrez, Roland

Relating to the winterization and emergency preparedness for electric utilities, power generation companies, municipally-owned utilities, and electric cooperatives.

In committee

SB 830

Zaffirini, Judith

Relating the procedure for amending or revoking certificates of public convenience and necessity issued to certain retail public utilities.

In committee

SB 859

Johnson, Nathan

Relating to the authority of certain water planning entities to hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call or videoconference call.

In committee

SB 888

Eckhardt, Sarah

Relating to the use of green stormwater infrastructure in new state buildings

In committee

SB 900

Alvarado, Carol

Relating to the safety of aboveground storage tanks.

In committee

SB 905

Perry, Charles

Relating to guidance on the regulations applicable to the potable reuse of wastewater.

In committee