80R7361 CBH/BEF-F

By: Swinford H.B. No. 1931

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the production and taxation of renewable diesel fuel.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 16, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 16. FUEL ETHANOL, [AND] BIODIESEL, AND RENEWABLE

DIESEL PRODUCTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM

SECTION 2. Section 16.001, Agriculture Code, is amended by amending Subdivisions (1) and (6) and adding Subdivision (7) to read as follows:

(1) "Account" means the fuel ethanol, [and] biodiesel, and renewable diesel production account.

(6) "Producer" means a person who operates a fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel plant in this state.

(7) "Renewable diesel" means a hydrocarbon that:

(A) is derived from vegetable oils, rendered animal fats, renewable lipids, other biomass, or a combination of those ingredients; and

(B) as produced, or when blended with other diesel fuel components, meets the requirements of:

(i) ASTM D-975; or

(ii) Texas Low Emission Diesel.

SECTION 3. Sections 16.002(a) and (b), Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) To be eligible for a grant for fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced in a plant, a producer must apply to the office for the registration of the plant. A producer may apply for the registration of more than one plant.

(b) An application for the registration of a plant must show to the satisfaction of the office that:

(1) the plant is capable of producing fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel;

(2) the producer has made a substantial investment of resources in this state in connection with the plant; and

(3) the plant constitutes a permanent fixture in this state.

SECTION 4. Section 16.003(a), Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) On or before the fifth day of each month, a producer shall report to the office on:

(1) the number of gallons of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced at each registered plant operated by the producer during the preceding month;

(2) the number of gallons of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel imported into this state by the producer during the preceding month;

(3) the number of gallons of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel sold or blended with motor fuels by the producer during the preceding month; and

(4) the total value of agricultural products consumed in each registered plant operated by the producer during the preceding month.

SECTION 5. The heading to Section 16.004, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 16.004. FUEL ETHANOL, [AND] BIODIESEL, AND RENEWABLE DIESEL PRODUCTION ACCOUNT.

SECTION 6. Section 16.004(a), Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The [fuel ethanol and biodiesel production] account is an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only to the office for the purposes of this chapter, including the making of grants under this chapter.

SECTION 7. The heading to Section 16.005, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 16.005. FEE ON FUEL ETHANOL, [AND] BIODIESEL, AND RENEWABLE DIESEL PRODUCTION.

SECTION 8. Sections 16.005(a), (b), and (d), Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The office shall impose a fee on each producer in an amount equal to 3.2 cents for each gallon of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced in each registered plant operated by the producer.

(b) For each fiscal year, the office may not impose fees on a producer for more than 18 million gallons of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced at any one registered plant.

(d) The office may not impose fees on a producer for fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced at a registered plant after the 10th anniversary of the date production from the plant begins.

SECTION 9. Section 16.006, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 16.006. FUEL ETHANOL, [AND] BIODIESEL, AND RENEWABLE DIESEL GRANTS. (a) The office, after consultation with the department, shall make grants to producers as an incentive for the development of the fuel ethanol, [and] biodiesel, and renewable diesel industry and agricultural production in this state.

(b) A producer is entitled to receive from the account 20 cents for each gallon of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced in each registered plant operated by the producer until the 10th anniversary of the date production from the plant begins.

(c) For each fiscal year a producer may not receive grants for more than 18 million gallons of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced at any one registered plant.

(d) The office by rule shall provide for the distribution of grant funds under this chapter to producers. The office shall make grants not less often than quarterly.

(e) If the office determines that the amount of money credited to the account is not sufficient to distribute the full amount of grant funds to eligible producers as provided by this chapter for a fiscal year, the office shall proportionately reduce the amount of each grant for each gallon of fuel ethanol, [or] biodiesel, or renewable diesel produced as necessary to continue the incentive program during the remainder of the fiscal year.

SECTION 10. Section 162.001, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (19) and adding Subdivision (53-a) to read as follows:

(19) "Diesel fuel" means kerosene or another liquid, or a combination of liquids blended together, that is suitable for or used for the propulsion of diesel-powered motor vehicles. The term includes products commonly referred to as kerosene, light cycle oil, #1 diesel fuel, #2 diesel fuel, dyed or undyed diesel fuel, aviation jet fuel, renewable diesel, biodiesel, distillate fuel, cutter stock, or heating oil, but does not include gasoline, aviation gasoline, or liquefied gas.

(53-a) "Renewable diesel" means a motor fuel or mixture of motor fuels that is comprised of hydrocarbons and that is:

(A) derived wholly or partly from agricultural products, vegetable oils, recycled greases, biomass, or animal fats, or the wastes of those products or fats; and

(B) advertised, offered for sale, suitable for use, or used as a motor fuel in an internal combustion engine.

SECTION 11. Section 162.204(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The tax imposed by this subchapter does not apply to:

(1) diesel fuel sold to the United States for its exclusive use, provided that the exemption does not apply to diesel fuel sold or delivered to a person operating under a contract with the United States;

(2) diesel fuel sold to a public school district in this state for the district's exclusive use;

(3) diesel fuel sold to a commercial transportation company that provides public school transportation services to a school district under Section 34.008, Education Code, and that uses the diesel fuel only to provide those services;

(4) diesel fuel exported by either a licensed supplier or a licensed exporter from this state to any other state, provided that:

(A) for diesel fuel in a situation described by Subsection (d), the bill of lading indicates the destination state and the supplier collects the destination state tax; or

(B) for diesel fuel in a situation described by Subsection (e), the bill of lading indicates the destination state, the diesel fuel is subsequently exported, and the exporter is licensed in the destination state to pay that state's tax and has an exporter's license issued under this subchapter;

(5) diesel fuel moved by truck or railcar between licensed suppliers or licensed permissive suppliers and in which the diesel fuel removed from the first terminal comes to rest in the second terminal, provided that the removal from the second terminal rack is subject to the tax imposed by this subchapter;

(6) diesel fuel delivered or sold into a storage facility of a licensed aviation fuel dealer from which the diesel fuel will be delivered solely into the fuel supply tanks of aircraft or aircraft servicing equipment, or sold from one licensed aviation fuel dealer to another licensed aviation fuel dealer who will deliver the diesel fuel exclusively into the fuel supply tanks of aircraft or aircraft servicing equipment;

(7) diesel fuel exported to a foreign country if the bill of lading indicates the foreign destination and the fuel is actually exported to the foreign country;

(8) dyed diesel fuel sold or delivered by a supplier to another supplier and dyed diesel fuel sold or delivered by a supplier or distributor into the bulk storage facility of a dyed diesel fuel bonded user or to a purchaser who provides a signed statement as provided by Section 162.206;

(9) the volume of water, fuel ethanol, renewable diesel, biodiesel, or mixtures thereof that are blended together with taxable diesel fuel when the finished product sold or used is clearly identified on the retail pump, storage tank, and sales invoice as a combination of diesel fuel and water, fuel ethanol, renewable diesel, biodiesel, or mixtures thereof;

(10) dyed diesel fuel sold by a supplier or permissive supplier to a distributor, or by a distributor to another distributor;

(11) dyed diesel fuel delivered by a license holder into the fuel supply tanks of railway engines, motorboats, or refrigeration units or other stationary equipment powered by a separate motor from a separate fuel supply tank;

(12) dyed kerosene when delivered by a supplier, distributor, or importer into a storage facility at a retail business from which all deliveries are exclusively for heating, cooking, lighting, or similar nonhighway use; or

(13) diesel fuel used by a person, other than a political subdivision, who owns, controls, operates, or manages a commercial motor vehicle as defined by Section 548.001, Transportation Code, if the fuel:

(A) is delivered exclusively into the fuel supply tank of the commercial motor vehicle; and

(B) is used exclusively to transport passengers for compensation or hire between points in this state on a fixed route or schedule.

SECTION 12. The change in law made by this Act does not affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of the liability for those taxes.

SECTION 13. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.