Riverbed Protection - Senate Bill 155
Bill restricts driving on or through rivers for pleasure. Also known as the ‘4-wheel drive’ bill.
Vote on Amendment 2 – Limits the number of rivers by listing specific rivers and by creating a size limitation of 30 feet wide or greater.

Environmental Prosecution - Senate Bill 1265
Bill limits who can report environmental crimes and complicates the procedure for prosecution.
Third reading – Vote is on suspending rules for third reading.

Energy Credits bill - Senate Bill 1325
Allows for electric companies to receive renewable energy credit for burning municipal solid waste.
Amendment 2 – Allows credits only after the initial requirement for waste-to-energy megawatts of 2,880 is met.
Third reading – Vote is on suspending rules for third reading.

Radioactive Waste - House Bill 1567
Allows for a radioactive waste dump in Texas.
Second Reading – Vote on suspending rules for 2nd Reading.
Amendment to Amendment 5 – Removes language defining federal waste, and language referring to federal waste and language that refers to multiple facilities.
Amendment 5 - Sets limits on the capacity of overall waste and low-level radioactive waste. Also requires the department to perform a ‘needs and impact’ assessment and hold a public hearing.
Amendment 5a – Increased the limits on capacity passed in Amendment 5.
Amendment 8 – Sets up guidelines for a waste fund in the event of a clean-up emergency and a facility fee to be collected by the state and placed into the fund. Also requires the facility to carry liability insurance.
Third reading – Vote is on suspending rules for third reading.

Government Reorganization - Senate Bill 1952
Original HB2 - Reorganizes state government and places more power in the Governor’s office. The bill contains multiple sections affecting environmental regulation including limiting public participation at TCEQ in permitting procedures and limiting the consideration of compliance history for permit applicants. Also eliminates the Recycling Board and places state waste management under the TCEQ and Governor’s office.
Floor Amendment 51 – Establishing a scenic byways program prohibiting outdoor advertising.
Floor Amendment 55 – Prohibited issuance of a landfill permit if incompatible with the regional solid waste management plan.

TCEQ bill - House Bill 2877
Changed permitting procedures at TCEQ to virtually eliminate compliance history and public input.
Third reading – Vote is on suspending rules for third reading.

TCEQ Permitting bill - SB55 Special Session 1
Relaxed permitting procedures at TCEQ. Allowed for historical information to be optional in permit applications.
Third Reading – Vote is on suspending the rules for third reading.

HB2877
3rd read

TERP Bill - HB1365
Funding bill for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.
173 – Strikes Section 1 of the bill. The language of Section 1 prevents TCEQ from establishing fuel content standards more stringent than EPA standards and delays further implementation of standards on fuel content, including the low-emissions diesel program under the SIP.
174 – Rewrites Section 1 of the bill to require sale of low-emissions diesel fuel by 2005.
175 – Changes Section 1 to allow TCEQ to consider alternative fuels and approve an alternative strategy to using low-emissions diesel. If a strategy is not approved, TCEQ is required to adopt fuel content standards. Also repeals section that provides incentives for production and distribution of fuel.

Appropriations Bill - HB 1
240 – Amendment that requires the funds appropriated for vehicles used by the Governor are spent on Hybrid (HEV) vehicles.

Radioactive Waste Bill - HB 1567
Allows for a radioactive waste dump in Texas.
309 – Requires the license to disposal be issued to a state agency, not a private entity authorized by the state. Vote is on motion to table amendment 12.
311 – Eliminates references to acceptance of federal waste and adds language that specifically prohibits disposal of federal waste. Vote is on motion to table amendment 14.
314 – Sets higher fees and bonds for the license holder. Presented by Talton and Baxter (both Republicans). Vote was on motion to table amendment 21.
316 – Record vote on the bill

Environmental Prosecution - SB 1265
Bill limits who can report environmental crimes and complicates the procedure for prosecution.
473 – Deletes all language in the bill that requires peace officers to report violations to TCEQ prior to referring to a prosecutor and deletes language giving TCEQ 45 days to rule on report of violation. Adds language requiring TCEQ notify peace officers of reports made directly to the agency. The amendment did not pass.
474 – Adds requirement that determinations made by TCEQ be posted on the Internet. Vote is on motion to table amendment.
501 – Record vote on third reading of the bill.

Anti-SOS bill - HB 2130
The bill restricts the permitting process for construction at the local level.
727 – Record vote on concurring with Senate amendments.

Government Reorganization bill - CSSB 1952
Original HB2 - Reorganizes state government and places more power in the Governor’s office. The bill contains multiple sections affecting environmental regulation including limiting public participation at TCEQ in permitting procedures and limiting the consideration of compliance history for permit applicants. Also eliminates the Recycling Board and places state waste management under the TCEQ and Governor’s office.
759 – Record vote on 2nd reading of the bill.

In-stream Flow - SB 1639
Regulates water districts, sets up a commission to study in-stream flow issues for possible legislation next session and contains language that prohibits the commission from issuing new permits for environmental, bay or estuary inflow uses.
898 – Record vote on adoption of conference committee report.