By: Zwiener H.B. No. 57
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to climate change planning and reporting.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 396 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 396. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING AND REPORTING
         Sec. 396.0001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
               (2)  "Office" means the office of the state
  climatologist.
         Sec. 396.0002.  CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT REPORT. (a)  Not later
  than June 1, 2024, and before the end of each successive four-year
  period after that date, the commission and the office shall prepare
  a report on the potential impact of climate change in this state.
         (b)  The report required by this section must include
  information regarding:
               (1)  scientific predictions regarding changes in
  temperature and precipitation patterns and amounts in this state
  that could result from climate change;
               (2)  the potential impact of climate change on:
                     (A)  human health;
                     (B)  the economy and the management of economic
  risk;
                     (C)  infrastructure;
                     (D)  surface water and groundwater;
                     (E)  emergency preparedness;
                     (F)  state and local government finances;
                     (G)  forests, wildlife, and fisheries;
                     (H)  agriculture; and
                     (I)  recreation and tourism;
               (3)  significant uncertainties about climate change;
  and
               (4)  economic opportunities created by the potential
  need for:
                     (A)  alternative sources of energy;
                     (B)  climate-related technologies, services, and
  strategies;
                     (C)  carbon sequestration technologies; and
                     (D)  technologies for the capture and utilization
  of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions or other mitigation
  strategies.
         (c)  In preparing the report required by this section, the
  commission and the office may consult with other state or federal
  agencies or academic institutions, as appropriate. The report
  shall reflect any diversity of views within the scientific
  community and among the entities consulted by the commission and
  the office.
         (d)  The commission and the office shall make the report
  required by this section available to the public in print and on the
  commission's Internet website.
         Sec. 396.0003.  GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY. (a)  The
  commission and the office shall annually compile an inventory of
  greenhouse gases emitted in this state by all sources.
         (b)  The inventory required by this section must establish:
               (1)  a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions to be used
  to project future greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of
  governmental intervention;
               (2)  greenhouse gas emission trends; and
               (3)  the relative contributions of major sectors,
  including the transportation, electricity generation, industrial,
  commercial, mineral and natural resources, alternative fuel,
  agricultural, and domestic sectors.
         Sec. 396.0004.  CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN. (a)  Not later
  than December 1, 2024, and before the end of each successive
  four-year period after that date, the commission and the office
  shall create a climate change action plan.
         (b)  The climate change action plan required by this section
  shall:
               (1)  include the information gathered as part of the
  greenhouse gas inventory described by Section 396.0003;
               (2)  evaluate cost-effective strategies for reducing
  or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, including the costs,
  benefits, and co-benefits of those strategies, and how those
  strategies impact the capability of meeting future energy demands;
               (3)  identify areas of disagreement regarding
  strategies covered by the plan; and
               (4)  recommend legislative changes necessary to
  implement the plan.
         (c)  The commission and the office shall deliver the climate
  action plan required by this section to the relevant standing
  committees of the senate and the house of representatives and make
  the plan available to the public in print and on the commission's
  Internet website.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.