By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1821

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, 2022, 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) forests, wildlife, and fisheries;

(D) agriculture;

(E) recreation and tourism;

(F) infrastructure;

(G) surface water and groundwater;

(H) emergency preparedness; and

(I) state and local government finances;

(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, 2022, 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, 2021.