Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 2620 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a county commissioners court to prohibit or restrict outdoor burning in general or outdoor burning of a particular substance in the unincorporated part of the county if drought conditions have been determined to exist and if the court finds that a public safety hazard would be exacerbated by outdoor burning. Upon request by the court, the Texas Forest Service is required to determine whether drought conditions exist using certain measurement index guidelines. The provisions of the act do not apply to outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission for firefighter training, for public utility, natural gas pipeline, or mining operations, or for the harvesting of agricultural crops. The act entitles a person to injunctive relief to prevent a violation and makes violation of the act a Class C misdemeanor.