Texas House Bill HB98

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

• Filed: 11/14/16

Caption

Relating to the requirements for newspaper notice of a public meeting on a permit issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Impact

The impact of HB98 on state laws primarily concerns the process of public engagement related to environmental regulations. By ensuring that notices are published in a language accessible to families in the community, especially Spanish, the bill aims to promote inclusivity and greater participation among residents in discussions that might affect local water quality and environmental health. This change could lead to more informed citizens and potential challenges to permits based on community feedback.

Summary

House Bill 98 proposes changes to the requirements for public notice regarding meetings related to permits issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The primary aim of this bill is to enhance accessibility and ensure that communities are adequately informed about environmental permit processes that may impact them. The bill mandates that public notices must be published in newspapers that are widely circulated in the relevant municipalities or counties, but with an added requirement for bilingual publication in areas where such resources exist.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding this bill may arise from concerns over implementation costs for local entities or newspapers. Critics could argue that certain newspapers may not have the resources to publish bilingual notices consistently, potentially limiting the effectiveness of the bill. Furthermore, discourse may focus on whether this change adequately addresses the broader needs for community engagement in the environmental permitting process or if it merely adds bureaucratic layers without fundamentally enhancing public input.