SB 2496
Zaffirini Bill Studies Hydrogen Sulfide, Sets No Limits
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Study, task force, commission, report
THE TEXT
“Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission and department shall submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's only action is a study and a report, and any real action on hydrogen sulfide waits for a later Legislature. The caption says it is a study, so the pattern is honestly labeled.
Study, task force, commission, reportInitial 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 a study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Department of State Health Services regarding the human health risks associated with exposure to hydrogen sulfide.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
A joint report due December 1, 2026, and the whole thing expires January 1, 2027.
The bill orders the state environmental agency and the state health department to jointly study the health risks of breathing hydrogen sulfide. It touches only those two agencies, which must send the Legislature a report with recommendations by December 1, 2026. Nothing changes on the ground now, because the bill sets no new limits, rules or penalties and expires January 1, 2027.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 150 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 150 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2496 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to a study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Department of State Health Services regarding the human health risks associated with exposure to hydrogen sulfide.
WHAT IT DOES
A joint report due December 1, 2026, and the whole thing expires January 1, 2027.
The bill orders the state environmental agency and the state health department to jointly study the health risks of breathing hydrogen sulfide. It touches only those two agencies, which must send the Legislature a report with recommendations by December 1, 2026. Nothing changes on the ground now, because the bill sets no new limits, rules or penalties and expires January 1, 2027.
CHARGES
[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 90%
THE TEXT
“Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission and department shall submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's only action is a study and a report, and any real action on hydrogen sulfide waits for a later Legislature. The caption says it is a study, so the pattern is honestly labeled.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Natural Resources
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 · Jul 1, 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.
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 S Referred to Natural Resources
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Environment--Air
Health--General
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
STATE HEALTH SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Text
The text as introduced · 150 words
89R16911 KRM-D By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2496 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Department of State Health Services regarding the human health risks associated with exposure to hydrogen sulfide. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. (a) In this section: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (2) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services. (b) The commission and the department shall conduct a joint study to assess the potential human health risks associated with exposure to hydrogen sulfide. (c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the commission and department shall submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action. (d) This section expires January 1, 2027. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.