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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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Relating to climate change planning and reporting. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 396 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 396. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING AND REPORTING |
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Sec. 396.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(2) "Office" means the office of the state |
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climatologist. |
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Sec. 396.0002. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT REPORT. (a) Not later |
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than June 1, 2026, and before the end of each successive four-year |
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period after that date, the commission and the office shall prepare |
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a report on the potential impact of climate change in this state. |
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(b) The report required by this section must include |
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information regarding: |
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(1) scientific predictions regarding changes in |
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temperature and precipitation patterns and amounts in this state |
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that could result from climate change; |
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(2) the potential impact of climate change on: |
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(A) human health; |
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(B) the economy and the management of economic |
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risk; |
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(C) infrastructure; |
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(D) surface water and groundwater; |
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(E) emergency preparedness; |
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(F) state and local government finances; |
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(G) forests, wildlife, and fisheries; |
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(H) agriculture; and |
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(I) recreation and tourism; |
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(3) significant uncertainties about climate change; |
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and |
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(4) economic opportunities created by the potential |
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need for: |
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(A) alternative sources of energy; |
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(B) climate-related technologies, services, and |
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strategies; |
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(C) carbon sequestration technologies; and |
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(D) technologies for the capture and utilization |
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of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions or other mitigation |
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strategies. |
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(c) In preparing the report required by this section, the |
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commission and the office may consult with other state or federal |
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agencies or academic institutions, as appropriate. The report shall |
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reflect any diversity of views within the scientific community and |
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among the entities consulted by the commission and the office. |
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(d) The commission and the office shall make the report |
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required by this section available to the public in print and on the |
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commission's Internet website. |
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Sec. 396.0003. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY. (a) The |
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commission and the office shall annually compile an inventory of |
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greenhouse gases emitted in this state by all sources. |
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(b) The inventory required by this section must establish: |
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(1) a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions to be used |
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to project future greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of |
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governmental intervention; |
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(2) greenhouse gas emission trends; and |
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(3) the relative contributions of major sectors, |
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including the transportation, electricity generation, industrial, |
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commercial, mineral and natural resources, alternative fuel, |
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agricultural, and domestic sectors. |
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Sec. 396.0004. CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN. (a) Not later |
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than December 1, 2026, and before the end of each successive |
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four-year period after that date, the commission and the office |
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shall create a climate change action plan. |
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(b) The climate change action plan required by this section |
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shall: |
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(1) include the information gathered as part of the |
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greenhouse gas inventory described by Section 396.0003; |
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(2) evaluate cost-effective strategies for reducing |
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or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, including the costs, |
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benefits, and co-benefits of those strategies, and how those |
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strategies impact the capability of meeting future energy demands; |
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(3) identify areas of disagreement regarding |
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strategies covered by the plan; and |
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(4) recommend legislative changes necessary to |
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implement the plan. |
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(c) The commission and the office shall deliver the climate |
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action plan required by this section to the relevant standing |
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committees of the senate and the house of representatives and make |
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the plan available to the public in print and on the commission's |
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Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |