BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4271
89R26652 DRS-D	By: Gerdes (Kolkhorst)
	Natural Resources
	5/19/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Recently, an Austin-based company that services multi-family housing communities and businesses in the Austin, San Antonio, and Waco areas sought out property in Lee County in order to compost meat, fish, dead animal carcasses, oil, grease, dairy materials, manure, and other things from commercial, municipal, and institutional sources. As a result, the community in and around the local area raised concerns with the proximity that the composting facility will have to Yegua Creek, which feeds into Somerville Lake, the region's predominant drinking water source.

Both house and senate members formally requested the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to hold a public meeting to hear constituent concerns in reviewing the application. However, to the classification of the applicable notification, TCEQ denied the request, thereby preventing the public's ability to ask questions of the applicant and TCEQ and to offer oral public comments. H.B. 4271 seeks to address this issue by requiring the TCEQ executive director to hold a public meeting in the county in which an applicable composting facility is proposed to be located on the request of an applicable member of the legislature.

H.B. 4271 amends current law relating to public meetings held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on requests for authorization to operate a composting facility.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 361.428, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (f) to require the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to hold a public meeting in the county in which a composting facility is proposed to be located and for which a permit, registration, or notification is required by TCEQ rule on the request of a member of the legislature whose district includes the site at which the facility is proposed to be located.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.