BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4930

By: Craddick

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The City of El Paso has proposed a climate charter for the entire city, which would require 80 percent of the energy within the city to be green energy. However, this type of municipal charter would increase electric bills for citizens and result in job losses. H.B. 4930 seeks to address this issue and place barriers on the reach of a municipal climate charter by requiring state approval of such a charter before holding an election on the charter.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4930 amends the Local Government Code to require a home-rule municipality or charter commission to receive approval on a climate charter from the appropriate state agency with proper jurisdiction to propose the creation of or an amendment to such a charter before a vote on a municipal charter or municipal charter amendment may be held. The bill defines "climate charter" as an overarching or comprehensive ordinance, rule, or other policy statement that purports to set out or address climate change or environmental impact on areas such as water, energy, and emissions.

H.B. 4930 establishes that a climate charter adopted before the bill’s effective date remains valid and enforceable until January 1, 2026. The bill requires municipalities that have adopted climate charters before the bill's effective date to comply with the approval requirement not later than January 1, 2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.