Texas 89th Legislature
Environment
11 high-impact bills require immediate attention. 30 bills have bipartisan support.
High-Impact Bills
11 bills require immediate attention
Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the inclusion of certain provisions in lease agreements for wind or solar power facilities.
Relating to recycling of certain renewable energy components; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain river segments and drainage areas.
Relating to the removal of battery energy storage facilities.
Relating to the disposal or storage of high-level radioactive waste.
Environment Filing Activity
Compliance & Cost
Leading Authors
All Bills (48)
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture.
Relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture.
Relating to the renewal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain expired occupational licenses and registrations.
Relating to the renewal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain expired occupational licenses and registrations.
Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.
Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.
Relating to certain governmental operations affecting the border region.
Relating to certain governmental operations affecting the border region.
Relating to the joint planning of desired future conditions in groundwater management areas.
Relating to the joint planning of desired future conditions in groundwater management areas.
Relating to the authority of a state agency or the state's air quality state implementation plan to impose certain restrictions with respect to a motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle powered by an engine.
Relating to the authority of a state agency or the state's air quality state implementation plan to impose certain restrictions with respect to a motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle powered by an engine.
Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the inclusion of certain provisions in lease agreements for wind or solar power facilities.
Relating to the inclusion of certain provisions in lease agreements for wind or solar power facilities.
Relating to recycling of certain renewable energy components; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to recycling of certain renewable energy components; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain river segments and drainage areas.
Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain river segments and drainage areas.
Relating to a deduction from the amount of taxable sales used to calculate the amount of sales and use taxes that the owners of restaurants that participate in an oyster shell recycling program are required to remit to the comptroller of public accounts.
Relating to a deduction from the amount of taxable sales used to calculate the amount of sales and use taxes that the owners of restaurants that participate in an oyster shell recycling program are required to remit to the comptroller of public accounts.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to the removal of battery energy storage facilities.
Relating to the removal of battery energy storage facilities.
Relating to the installation and operation of intermediate bulk container recycling facilities; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the installation and operation of intermediate bulk container recycling facilities; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the disposal or storage of high-level radioactive waste.
Relating to the disposal or storage of high-level radioactive waste.
Relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.
Relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.
Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.
Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.
Relating to the regulation of artesian water wells by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the regulation of artesian water wells by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to exclusive contracts for municipal solid waste management services.
Relating to exclusive contracts for municipal solid waste management services.
Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, the change of the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, the dissolution of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.
Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, the change of the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, the dissolution of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.
Relating to an exception to the titling requirement for certain motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense; providing for a fee.
Relating to an exception to the titling requirement for certain motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense; providing for a fee.
Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and developers for certain water conservation and reuse projects.
Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and developers for certain water conservation and reuse projects.
Relating to a compliance agreement for the suspension of an enforcement action against a regional water supply, sewer, wastewater treatment, or solid waste disposal service for certain violations.
Relating to a compliance agreement for the suspension of an enforcement action against a regional water supply, sewer, wastewater treatment, or solid waste disposal service for certain violations.
Relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.
Relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.
Relating to standard permits for certain concrete plants.
Relating to standard permits for certain concrete plants.
Relating to the correction of references to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Relating to the correction of references to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.
Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.
Relating to an exemption for drillers or operators of closed-loop geothermal injection wells from certain requirements applicable to persons involved in activities under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Relating to an exemption for drillers or operators of closed-loop geothermal injection wells from certain requirements applicable to persons involved in activities under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Relating to state and local authority to regulate the food service industry.
Relating to state and local authority to regulate the food service industry.
Relating to procedural requirements for uranium mining production area authorizations.
Relating to procedural requirements for uranium mining production area authorizations.
Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations.
Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations.
Relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Relating to eligibility to use a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in this state.
Relating to eligibility to use a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in this state.
Relating to notice provided to certain public drinking water supply systems before water quality testing.
Relating to notice provided to certain public drinking water supply systems before water quality testing.
Relating to notification procedures concerning groundwater contamination.
Relating to notification procedures concerning groundwater contamination.
Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.
Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.
Relating to the operation of a cement kiln and the production of aggregates near a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility.
Relating to the operation of a cement kiln and the production of aggregates near a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility.
Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee.
Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the regulation of composting in certain counties; authorizing a civil penalty.
Relating to the regulation of composting in certain counties; authorizing a civil penalty.
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
Relating to publication of the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee's annual report.
Relating to publication of the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee's annual report.
Relating to the regulation of emissions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality during an event affecting electric demand or grid reliability.
Relating to the regulation of emissions by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality during an event affecting electric demand or grid reliability.
Relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit.
Relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit.
Relating to the access to and use of certain criminal history record information, to the procedure for obtaining that information, and to the correct terminology for certain licenses the issuance of which requires a criminal history background check.
Relating to the access to and use of certain criminal history record information, to the procedure for obtaining that information, and to the correct terminology for certain licenses the issuance of which requires a criminal history background check.
Relating to the use of reclaimed water that has been treated to meet certain standards as part of an aquifer storage and recovery project.
Relating to the use of reclaimed water that has been treated to meet certain standards as part of an aquifer storage and recovery project.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws on environment passed in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 48 laws related to environment. These bills were authored by 28 different legislators and address various aspects of environment policy in Texas.
- Did environment bills originate in the Texas House or Senate?
- Environment legislation from the 89th Legislature includes 25 Senate bills and 23 House bills. Both chambers contributed significant legislation on this topic.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most environment bills?
- The leading authors of environment legislation include Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D) with 6 bills, Sen. Brian Birdwell (R) with 4 bills, Rep. Ryan Guillen (R) with 4 bills. These lawmakers have demonstrated particular focus on environment issues during the 89th Legislature.
- How urgent are the compliance requirements for environment legislation?
- Among the 48 environment bills enacted, 11 have critical compliance urgency and 28 have moderate urgency. Businesses should prioritize reviewing high-urgency bills for immediate compliance planning.
- What subjects are related to environment in Texas law?
- Environment legislation frequently overlaps with Environment--water, Environmental Quality, Texas Commission On, Permits. Bills often address multiple related policy areas, so reviewing these connected subjects may provide additional context.
- Is there bipartisan support for environment legislation in Texas?
- Yes, 30 of the 48 environment bills (63%) have bipartisan sponsorship, with both Republican and Democrat sponsors. This indicates areas of cross-party agreement on environment policy.
- When do Texas environment laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified. Some environment bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation schedules. Review individual bills for specific effective dates and compliance deadlines.
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