| 1 | 1 | | S.B. No. 1290 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to a study of the effects of the installation, operation, |
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| 6 | 6 | | removal, and disposal of solar, wind turbine, and energy storage |
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| 7 | 7 | | equipment. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means |
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| 10 | 10 | | the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 2. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF INSTALLATION, OPERATION, |
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| 12 | 12 | | REMOVAL, AND DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT. (a) The commission |
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| 13 | 13 | | shall conduct a study on the current and potential effects of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | installation, operation, removal, and disposal of solar, wind |
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| 15 | 15 | | turbine, and energy storage equipment on the environment and |
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| 16 | 16 | | watersheds. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) In conducting the study under this section, the |
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| 18 | 18 | | commission shall consult with: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) the Department of Agriculture; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) the Texas A&M Forest Service; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (3) the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service; |
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| 22 | 22 | | (4) the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (5) groundwater conservation districts; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | (6) river authorities. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (c) The commission may enter into a memorandum of |
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| 26 | 26 | | understanding with a university or foundation to assist with the |
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| 27 | 27 | | study. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (d) Not later than December 1, 2024, the commission shall |
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| 29 | 29 | | submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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| 30 | 30 | | house of representatives a report that includes the findings of the |
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| 31 | 31 | | study conducted under this section. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2025. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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| 34 | 34 | | immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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| 35 | 35 | | elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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| 36 | 36 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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| 37 | 37 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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| 38 | 38 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 40 | 40 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1290 passed the Senate on |
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| 41 | 41 | | April 20, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 42 | 42 | | ______________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 44 | 44 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1290 passed the House on |
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| 45 | 45 | | May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 6, |
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| 46 | 46 | | one present not voting. |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 49 | 49 | | Approved: |
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| 50 | 50 | | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Date |
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| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Governor |
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