Monitoring the Session

HB 3071

bill canceling permits for long-dormant city-trash landfills

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Charlie GerenRHouse 99

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

No waste for 25 years in a row? Permit’s gone.

The bill orders the state environmental agency to cancel a city-trash landfill permit when the landfill has taken no waste for 25 years in a row, or when the permit holder who owned the site no longer owns it. It touches owners and buyers of municipal solid waste landfills and the agency that issues their permits. A sold landfill or a long-dormant one loses its permit, so a new owner cannot simply inherit the old permit for ownership changes that happen on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 31, 2025: both chambers adopted the conference committee report. 2 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3071 · 2025-02-20

SOLD BY

Rep. Charlie GerenRHouse 99

ITEM

relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

WHAT IT DOES

No waste for 25 years in a row? Permit’s gone.

The bill orders the state environmental agency to cancel a city-trash landfill permit when the landfill has taken no waste for 25 years in a row, or when the permit holder who owned the site no longer owns it. It touches owners and buyers of municipal solid waste landfills and the agency that issues their permits. A sold landfill or a long-dormant one loses its permit, so a new owner cannot simply inherit the old permit for ownership changes that happen on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 30, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Environmental Regulation
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amended 1-Geren
  18. Passed to engrossment as amended
  19. Record vote RV#1687
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#1798
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Natural Resources
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Left pending in committee
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Vote taken in committee
  34. Reported favorably as substituted
  35. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  36. Committee report printed and distributed
  37. Placed on intent calendar
  38. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  39. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  40. Vote recorded in Journal
  41. Three day rule suspended
  42. Record vote
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote
  46. Statement(s) submitted
  47. Senate passage as amended reported
  48. Senate Amendments distributed
  49. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  50. House refuses to concur in Senate amendments
  51. House requests conference committee
  52. House appoints conferees
  53. House refuses to concur-reported
  54. House requests conference committee-reported
  55. House appoints conferees-reported
  56. Senate grants request for conference comm.
  57. Senate appoints conferees
  58. Senate grants request for conf comm-reported
  59. Senate appoints conferees-reported
  60. Conf. Comm. Report distributed
  61. Conference committee report filed
  62. House adopts conference committee report
  63. Record vote RV#4107
  64. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  65. House adopts conf. comm. report-reported
  66. Senate adopts conference committee report
  67. Record vote
  68. Senate adopts conf. comm. report-reported
  69. Reported enrolled
  70. Signed in the House
  71. Signed in the Senate
  72. Sent to the Governor
  73. Filed without the Governor's signature
  74. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 138 yea · 9 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Charlie Geren

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$100KJon & Rebecca Brumley$50,000Michael Gallagher$40,000

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$100,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101004598, 101020024, 101055554, 101067438, 101071413.

Jon & Rebecca Brumley$50,000.00
Michael Gallagher$40,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101004598, 101020024, 101055554, 101067438, 101071413.

Votes7

Senate May 31, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

On motion of Senator Hancock, the Conference Committee Report was adopted by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 31, 2025

Yea
101
Nay
30
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
13
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4107

Representative Geren moved to adopt the conference committee report on HB 3071. The motion to adopt the conference committee report on HB 3071 prevailed by (Record 4107): 101 Yeas, 30 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 101 (published)
  • Nay: 30 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 13 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator Hancock moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 3071 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hancock moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSHB 3071 at this time on its second reading: CSHB 3071, Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The motion prevailed. Senator Hagenbuch asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 8, 2025

Yea
138
Nay
9
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1798

HB 3071 was passed by (Record 1798): 138 Yeas, 9 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 138 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea
134
Nay
7
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1687

CSHB 3071, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 1687): 134 Yeas, 7 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 134 (published)
  • Nay: 7 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses3
For
0
Against
1
On
2
Names

Against

  • Waste Connections, Inc.1 registration

On

  • TCEQ1 registration
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality1 registration
Sources

3 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 30, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 20, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Kelly HancockRSenate 9

House committee · Environmental Regulation · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Environment--Solid Waste

LANDFILLS

PERMITS

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON

Text

The text as introduced · 209 words

89R13632 DRS-D

By: Geren
H.B. No. 3071

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits

issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 361, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 361.1201 to read as follows:

Sec. 361.1201. CANCELLATION OF CERTAIN LANDFILL PERMITS.

The commission shall cancel a permit issued for a municipal solid

waste landfill facility if:

(1) the facility has not accepted waste for a period of

25 consecutive years; or

(2) if the permit was issued to the owner of the

facility, the person to whom the permit was issued no longer owns

the facility.

SECTION 2. Section 361.1201(2), Health and Safety Code, as

added by this Act, applies only to the transfer of ownership of a

municipal solid waste facility that occurs on or after the

effective date of this Act. A transfer of ownership that occurred

before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it

existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that

law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.