By: Darby H.B. No. 1598
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to local government and other political subdivision
  regulation of certain solid waste facilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 361.095, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 361.095.  LOCAL PERMITS FOR [APPLICANT FOR] HAZARDOUS
  WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FACILITIES [FACILITY
  PERMIT EXEMPT FROM LOCAL PERMIT]. (a) An applicant for a permit
  under this subchapter is not:
               (1)  required to obtain a permit for the siting,
  construction, or operation of a hazardous waste management facility
  from a local government or other political subdivision of the
  state; or
               (2)  required to obtain a permit for the siting,
  construction, or operation of a municipal solid waste facility from
  a local government or other political subdivision of the state as a
  prerequisite to a permit being issued by the commission.
         (b)  A local government or other political subdivision of the
  state may not adopt a rule, order, or ordinance that conflicts with
  or is inconsistent with:
               (1)  the requirements for hazardous waste management or
  municipal solid waste facilities as specified by:
                     (A)  the rules of the commission; or
                     (B)  [by] a permit issued by the commission; or
               (2)  the requirements for municipal solid waste
  facilities under Section 361.011.
         (c)  In an action to enforce a rule, order, or ordinance of a
  local government or other political subdivision, the burden is on
  the facility owner or operator or on the applicant to demonstrate
  conflict or inconsistency with state requirements.
         (d)  The validity or applicability of a rule, order, or
  ordinance of a local government or other political subdivision may
  be determined in an action for declaratory judgment under Chapter
  37, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, if it is alleged that the
  rule, order, or ordinance, or its threatened application,
  interferes with, [or] impairs, or threatens to interfere with or
  impair, the legal rights or privileges of the plaintiff concerning
  an issued permit, an application for a permit, or the issuance of a
  permit for the siting, construction, or operation of a hazardous
  waste management or municipal solid waste facility.
         (e)  The local government or other political subdivision
  whose rule, order, or ordinance is being questioned shall be made a
  party to the action. The commission shall be given written notice
  by certified mail of the pendency of the action, and the commission
  may become a party to the action.
         (f)  A declaratory judgment may be rendered even if the
  plaintiff has requested the commission, the local government or
  political subdivision, or another court to determine the validity
  or applicability of the rule, order, or ordinance in question.
         (g)  This section may not be construed to prevent or limit
  the right of:
               (1)  a county or municipality to exercise the authority
  granted under Section 363.112 to prohibit the processing or
  disposal of municipal solid waste;
               (2)  a county to exercise the authority granted under
  Section 364.012 to prohibit the disposal of municipal solid waste;
  or
               (3)  a local government or other political subdivision
  to adopt or enforce a rule, order, or ordinance under the authority
  of the National Flood Insurance Program governing permits or other
  approvals for the development of land in areas prone to floods or
  mudslides.
         SECTION 2.  Section 361.095, Health and Safety Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies only to an order, ordinance, or other
  regulation related to the siting or location of a solid waste
  disposal facility adopted by a local government or other political
  subdivision after the effective date of this Act. An order,
  ordinance, or other regulation related to the siting or location of
  a solid waste disposal facility adopted before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date it was
  adopted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.