Miles Bill Orders Severe Weather Plans Nobody Has To Follow

The text as introduced · 600 words

89R6259 GP-F

By: Miles, Cook
S.B. No. 2296

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by

certain entities.

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

SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding

Chapter 795 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 795. SEVERE WEATHER ADAPTATION PLAN

Sec. 795.001. PARTICIPATING ENTITIES. Not later than

September 1 of each even-numbered year, each of the following

entities shall publish a severe weather adaptation plan to assess

the entity's role with respect to severe weather events:

(1) the Department of Agriculture;

(2) the Department of Public Safety of the State of

Texas;

(3) the General Land Office;

(4) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(5) the independent organization certified under

Section 39.151, Utilities Code, for the ERCOT power region;

(6) the office of the comptroller;

(7) the Parks and Wildlife Department;

(8) the Public Utility Commission of Texas;

(9) the Texas A&M Forest Service;

(10) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(11) the Texas Department of Housing and Community

Affairs;

(12) the Texas Department of Insurance;

(13) the Texas Department of Transportation;

(14) the Texas Division of Emergency Management; and

(15) the Texas Water Development Board.

Sec. 795.002. PLAN. For purposes of this chapter, a severe

weather adaptation plan is a strategy to identify, minimize, and

adequately prepare for the effects of an increased incidence and

prevalence of severe weather on the social, economic, and

ecological systems of this state and to manage the risks associated

with severe weather. A plan under this section must be based on

current research-based science that identifies the likely effects

on this state from severe weather events.

Sec. 795.003. CONTENTS OF PLAN. (a) An entity's severe

weather adaptation plan must include:

(1) a severe weather vulnerability assessment;

(2) a review of existing programs in the context of

severe weather events;

(3) specific steps necessary for the entity to fulfill

its mission during severe weather events;

(4) an analysis of the effects implementing the steps

identified under Subdivision (3) would have on the entity's budget

during the next 2, 5, and 10 years;

(5) potential sources of funding to support the

entity's efforts to adapt to an increased incidence and prevalence

of severe weather events; and

(6) a statewide strategy to monitor the continuing

effects of severe weather events.

(b) In developing a severe weather adaptation plan, each

entity subject to this chapter shall consult with:

(1) the Houston Advanced Research Center; and

(2) the Office of the Texas State Climatologist in the

Department of Atmospheric Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences,

Texas A&M University.

Sec. 795.004. POSTING OF PLAN. Not later than September 1

of each even-numbered year, each entity subject to this chapter

shall post the entity's severe weather adaptation plan on a

publicly accessible Internet website and electronically submit a

copy of the plan to:

(1) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of

the house of representatives;

(2) the presiding officer of each standing committee

or subcommittee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over

environmental matters; and

(3) the executive director of the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality.

Sec. 795.005. AUDIT OF PLAN. A severe weather adaptation

plan is subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with

Chapter 321.

SECTION 2. 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.