Texas Senate Bill SB1467

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/28/09

Caption

Relating to governmental agency contracts that involve the production of cement.

Impact

If enacted, SB1467 will significantly influence state laws governing procurement processes for cement-related projects. It pushes local governments and agencies to consider environmental performance as a criterion when contracting for cement production. This potentially opens the door for more environmentally sustainable practices in the construction and infrastructure sectors, aligning procurement decisions with broader state and national goals for sustainable development and pollution reduction.

Summary

SB1467 aims to amend the Local Government Code in Texas to facilitate the procurement of cement-related goods and services by governmental agencies. The bill introduces a preference for vendors that produce cement using environmentally friendly technologies. Specifically, it stipulates that governmental agencies may prefer vendors whose cement is made from kilns using dry raw material feed precalciner pyroprocessing technology, provided they also exceed regulatory requirements for nitrogen oxide emissions. This approach seeks to promote sustainable practices in cement production while allowing agencies to make informed procurement choices.

Contention

There may be points of contention surrounding the implementation of SB1467, particularly regarding how 'preference' is defined and enforced. Critics may argue that setting preferences for specific production methods could limit competition and lead to increased costs for governmental contracts. Additionally, there may be concerns over how strictly the regulatory requirements are interpreted and monitored, which could impact vendors' ability to participate in government contracts depending on their production methods.