Zwiener Climate Bill Orders Reports, Leaves Rules For Later

The text as introduced · 587 words

By: Zwiener
H.B. No. 1438

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to climate change planning and reporting.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 396 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 396. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING AND REPORTING

Sec. 396.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality.

(2) "Office" means the office of the state

climatologist.

Sec. 396.0002. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT REPORT. (a) Not later

than June 1, 2026, and before the end of each successive four-year

period after that date, the commission and the office shall prepare

a report on the potential impact of climate change in this state.

(b) The report required by this section must include

information regarding:

(1) scientific predictions regarding changes in

temperature and precipitation patterns and amounts in this state

that could result from climate change;

(2) the potential impact of climate change on:

(A) human health;

(B) the economy and the management of economic

risk;

(C) infrastructure;

(D) surface water and groundwater;

(E) emergency preparedness;

(F) state and local government finances;

(G) forests, wildlife, and fisheries;

(H) agriculture; and

(I) recreation and tourism;

(3) significant uncertainties about climate change;

and

(4) economic opportunities created by the potential

need for:

(A) alternative sources of energy;

(B) climate-related technologies, services, and

strategies;

(C) carbon sequestration technologies; and

(D) technologies for the capture and utilization

of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions or other mitigation

strategies.

(c) In preparing the report required by this section, the

commission and the office may consult with other state or federal

agencies or academic institutions, as appropriate. The report shall

reflect any diversity of views within the scientific community and

among the entities consulted by the commission and the office.

(d) The commission and the office shall make the report

required by this section available to the public in print and on the

commission's Internet website.

Sec. 396.0003. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY. (a) The

commission and the office shall annually compile an inventory of

greenhouse gases emitted in this state by all sources.

(b) The inventory required by this section must establish:

(1) a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions to be used

to project future greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of

governmental intervention;

(2) greenhouse gas emission trends; and

(3) the relative contributions of major sectors,

including the transportation, electricity generation, industrial,

commercial, mineral and natural resources, alternative fuel,

agricultural, and domestic sectors.

Sec. 396.0004. CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN. (a) Not later

than December 1, 2026, and before the end of each successive

four-year period after that date, the commission and the office

shall create a climate change action plan.

(b) The climate change action plan required by this section

shall:

(1) include the information gathered as part of the

greenhouse gas inventory described by Section 396.0003;

(2) evaluate cost-effective strategies for reducing

or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, including the costs,

benefits, and co-benefits of those strategies, and how those

strategies impact the capability of meeting future energy demands;

(3) identify areas of disagreement regarding

strategies covered by the plan; and

(4) recommend legislative changes necessary to

implement the plan.

(c) The commission and the office shall deliver the climate

action plan required by this section to the relevant standing

committees of the senate and the house of representatives and make

the plan available to the public in print and on the commission's

Internet website.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.