By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1438
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to climate change planning and reporting.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 396 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 396. CLIMATE CHANGE PLANNING AND REPORTING
Sec. 396.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(2) "Office" means the office of the state
climatologist.
Sec. 396.0002. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT REPORT. (a) Not later
than June 1, 2026, and before the end of each successive four-year
period after that date, the commission and the office shall prepare
a report on the potential impact of climate change in this state.
(b) The report required by this section must include
information regarding:
(1) scientific predictions regarding changes in
temperature and precipitation patterns and amounts in this state
that could result from climate change;
(2) the potential impact of climate change on:
(A) human health;
(B) the economy and the management of economic
risk;
(C) infrastructure;
(D) surface water and groundwater;
(E) emergency preparedness;
(F) state and local government finances;
(G) forests, wildlife, and fisheries;
(H) agriculture; and
(I) recreation and tourism;
(3) significant uncertainties about climate change;
and
(4) economic opportunities created by the potential
need for:
(A) alternative sources of energy;
(B) climate-related technologies, services, and
strategies;
(C) carbon sequestration technologies; and
(D) technologies for the capture and utilization
of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions or other mitigation
strategies.
(c) In preparing the report required by this section, the
commission and the office may consult with other state or federal
agencies or academic institutions, as appropriate. The report shall
reflect any diversity of views within the scientific community and
among the entities consulted by the commission and the office.
(d) The commission and the office shall make the report
required by this section available to the public in print and on the
commission's Internet website.
Sec. 396.0003. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY. (a) The
commission and the office shall annually compile an inventory of
greenhouse gases emitted in this state by all sources.
(b) The inventory required by this section must establish:
(1) a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions to be used
to project future greenhouse gas emissions in the absence of
governmental intervention;
(2) greenhouse gas emission trends; and
(3) the relative contributions of major sectors,
including the transportation, electricity generation, industrial,
commercial, mineral and natural resources, alternative fuel,
agricultural, and domestic sectors.
Sec. 396.0004. CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN. (a) Not later
than December 1, 2026, and before the end of each successive
four-year period after that date, the commission and the office
shall create a climate change action plan.
(b) The climate change action plan required by this section
shall:
(1) include the information gathered as part of the
greenhouse gas inventory described by Section 396.0003;
(2) evaluate cost-effective strategies for reducing
or offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, including the costs,
benefits, and co-benefits of those strategies, and how those
strategies impact the capability of meeting future energy demands;
(3) identify areas of disagreement regarding
strategies covered by the plan; and
(4) recommend legislative changes necessary to
implement the plan.
(c) The commission and the office shall deliver the climate
action plan required by this section to the relevant standing
committees of the senate and the house of representatives and make
the plan available to the public in print and on the commission's
Internet website.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.