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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements for certain meteorological evaluation |
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towers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 21.071, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.071. [PAINTING AND MARKING] REQUIREMENTS FOR |
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CERTAIN METEOROLOGICAL EVALUATION TOWERS; OFFENSE. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.071, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsections (c-1), |
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(c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "meteorological evaluation tower" |
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means a structure that: |
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(1) is self-standing or supported by guy wires and |
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anchors; |
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(2) is not more than 12 [six] feet in diameter at the |
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base of the structure; and |
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(3) has accessory facilities on which an antenna, |
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sensor, camera, meteorological instrument, or other equipment is |
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mounted for the purpose of documenting whether a site has |
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sufficient wind resources for the operation of a wind turbine |
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generator. |
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(c-1) A person may not erect a meteorological evaluation |
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tower unless the person provides notice to the department in |
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accordance with this subsection of the person's intent to erect the |
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tower. Notice provided under this subsection must: |
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(1) be on a form prescribed by the department; |
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(2) be submitted through the department's Internet |
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website not later than the 30th day before the date erection of the |
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tower begins; and |
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(3) contain the following information: |
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(A) the name, address, and contact information of |
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the owner or operator of the meteorological evaluation tower; |
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(B) the proposed location of the meteorological |
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evaluation tower, including the site's latitude, longitude, and |
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ground elevation and the tower's height above ground level; |
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(C) the date the person proposes to begin |
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erecting the meteorological evaluation tower; and |
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(D) any other information the department |
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considers necessary to determine the ownership, physical |
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characteristics, or location of the meteorological evaluation |
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tower. |
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(c-2) The owner or operator of the meteorological |
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evaluation tower shall notify the department in the form and manner |
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prescribed by the department of any change in the information |
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contained in the notice provided for the tower under Subsection |
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(c-1). |
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(c-3) Not later than the 30th day after the date the |
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department receives notice of a person's intent to erect a |
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meteorological evaluation tower under Subsection (c-1), the |
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department shall provide a copy of the notice to: |
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(1) each federally owned or operated radar or military |
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installation in this state whose boundaries are within 50 nautical |
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miles of the tower; |
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(2) the county judge of each county in this state that |
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contains a radar or military installation described by Subdivision |
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(1); and |
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(3) the county judge of each county in this state that |
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is adjacent to a county described by Subdivision (2). |
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(e) The department shall adopt rules to implement and |
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administer this section, including rules requiring a person[: |
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[(1)] who owns or [,] operates[, or erects] a |
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meteorological evaluation tower [to provide notice to the |
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department of the existence of or intent to erect a meteorological |
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evaluation tower; and |
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[(2)] to register the [meteorological evaluation] |
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tower with the department. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |