HB 4815
Gerdes Emissions Bill Shields Only Sites In Listed Industry Codes
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Carve-out
THE TEXT
…“Industrial Classification Code described in Section 382.051961(a),”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The liability shield goes only to sources in one set of industry codes, not to every emitter whose site is hit by a third party's criminal act. The caption says only "certain sources," so it never tells the reader which industry gets the protection.
Carve-outInitial 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 the liability of owners or operators of certain sources or facilities for unauthorized emissions caused by the criminal act of another.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Someone else’s criminal act? No civil, administrative or criminal liability under the Water Code.
This bill says air pollution limits do not apply to the owner or operator of certain industrial sites when an emission is caused by someone else's criminal act. It covers only sources in the industry codes listed in an existing section of the Health and Safety Code. Those owners would face no civil, administrative, or criminal liability under the Water Code's enforcement chapter for that emission, starting with emissions on or after the effective date.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Environmental Regulation committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4815 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the liability of owners or operators of certain sources or facilities for unauthorized emissions caused by the criminal act of another.
WHAT IT DOES
Someone else’s criminal act? No civil, administrative or criminal liability under the Water Code.
This bill says air pollution limits do not apply to the owner or operator of certain industrial sites when an emission is caused by someone else's criminal act. It covers only sources in the industry codes listed in an existing section of the Health and Safety Code. Those owners would face no civil, administrative, or criminal liability under the Water Code's enforcement chapter for that emission, starting with emissions on or after the effective date.
CHARGES
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 60%
THE TEXT
…“Industrial Classification Code described in Section 382.051961(a),”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The liability shield goes only to sources in one set of industry codes, not to every emitter whose site is hit by a third party's criminal act. The caption says only "certain sources," so it never tells the reader which industry gets the protection.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Environmental Regulation
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“or criminal liability under Chapter 7, Water Code, for the”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill shields one class of industrial owners from enforcement for emissions caused by a third party's criminal act, with no requirement that the owner took any precautions.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Oct 30, 2024 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$316,248.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$316,248.00
- Cash
- $220,000.00
- Paid by others
- $96,248.00
- Total
- $316,248.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 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: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.
Dustin Burrows Campaign$88,800.00
Dustin Burrows Campaign
$88,800.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $13,800.00
- Total
- $88,800.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC$67,750.00
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$67,750.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $42,750.00
- Total
- $67,750.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 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: 101036569.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$316,248.00
- Cash
- $220,000.00
- Paid by others
- $96,248.00
- Total
- $316,248.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 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: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.
Dustin Burrows Campaign
$88,800.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $13,800.00
- Total
- $88,800.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$67,750.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $42,750.00
- Total
- $67,750.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 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: 101036569.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Environmental Regulation: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Environmental Regulation · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Environment--Air
Text
The text as introduced · 272 words
89R10218 JRR-F By: Gerdes H.B. No. 4815 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the liability of owners or operators of certain sources or facilities for unauthorized emissions caused by the criminal act of another. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 382.085, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) The prohibitions under Subsections (a) and (b) relating to the emission of an air contaminant do not apply to the owner or operator of a source or facility that belongs to a Standard Industrial Classification Code described in Section 382.051961(a), and the owner or operator is not subject to civil, administrative, or criminal liability under Chapter 7, Water Code, for the emission, if the emission was caused by a criminal act committed by a person other than the owner or operator of the source or facility. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to the emission of an air contaminant that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. An emission of an air contaminant that occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the emission occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.