Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1377 by Kolkhorst (relating to the ownership and local regulation of trees and timber.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add Chapter 154 to the Natural Resources Code to provide requirements for ownership and regulation of trees and timber, and would include definitions for what classifies as a mitigation fee; the removal of a tree; and a replacement tree. The bill would provide certain exceptions to the regulation of trees or timber within three miles of a federal military base in active use as of September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
There would be costs to a local governmental entity that removes a tree from a landowner's property. In addition, a local governmental entity may assess a tree mitigation fee against a landowner for the costs of the tree removal which may offset some of the costs. However, the fiscal impact to a locality would vary depending on the size and number of tree removals; the tree mitigation fee; and current processes for tree removal.
Tree mitigation fees vary by municipality and range from an estimated $100 to $200 per caliper inch in tree diameter for a significant tree; and from $300 to $600 per inch for a heritage tree. As an example, an oak tree with a 24-inch diameter would cost $14,400, and a 30-inch-diameter tree would cost $18,000 to remove.