Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4941 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R10027 JON-D
2	2	By: Curry H.B. No. 4941
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the establishment of a strategic fuel reserve program
10	10	in this state.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
13	13	adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
14	14	SUBCHAPTER K. STRATEGIC FUEL RESERVE PROGRAM
15	15	Sec. 418.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
16	16	(1) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of
17	17	Texas.
18	18	(2) "Gas" means natural gas.
19	19	(3) "Petroleum product" means any product derived by
20	20	refining petroleum and intended to produce power by burning the
21	21	product.
22	22	(4) "Program" means the strategic fuel reserve program
23	23	established under this subchapter.
24	24	Sec. 418.352. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE. The
25	25	commission shall establish a program for acquiring and maintaining
26	26	a strategic fuel reserve of gas and petroleum products for
27	27	distribution in this state in the event of a disaster to reduce the
28	28	impact of disruptions in supplies of the gas and petroleum products
29	29	in this state.
30	30	Sec. 418.353. GUIDELINE FOR PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT AND
31	31	OPERATION. The program must be established and operated in a manner
32	32	that substantially reduces this state's vulnerability to an energy
33	33	emergency while considering the energy needs and infrastructure of
34	34	each region of this state.
35	35	Sec. 418.354. POWERS; EXCEPTION. (a) Except as provided by
36	36	Subsection (b), the commission may purchase, sell, and lease
37	37	property, including gas and petroleum products, and take any other
38	38	action reasonable and necessary to establish and operate the
39	39	program.
40	40	(b) The commission may not distribute gas or petroleum
41	41	products maintained as part of the strategic fuel reserve unless
42	42	the governor declares a state of disaster and directs the
43	43	distribution or determines that a disaster has occurred in another
44	44	state and that state is in need of gas or petroleum products.
45	45	(c) The governor may direct the distribution of not more
46	46	than 30 percent of the gas or petroleum products in the strategic
47	47	fuel reserve to another state under Subsection (b).
48	48	(d) An underground or aboveground storage tank operated
49	49	under the program is subject to Subchapter I, Chapter 26, Water
50	50	Code.
51	51	(e) At the request of the commission, the General Land
52	52	Office shall provide the commission with assistance in establishing
53	53	the program, including by acquiring or researching the title to any
54	54	real property, mineral right, or other ownership interest.
55	55	(f) The commission may enter into an agreement with a local
56	56	government or other person for the purpose of facilitating the
57	57	operation of the program that includes a provision concerning the
58	58	collection of revenue derived from the operation of the program.
59	59	Sec. 418.355. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. The strategic fuel
60	60	reserve established under this subchapter must have the capacity to
61	61	hold at least the amount of gas and petroleum products needed to
62	62	provide fuel and power for this state for a period of at least 30
63	63	days in the event of a disaster that would likely disrupt the
64	64	regular distribution of gas and petroleum products throughout this
65	65	state. The commission shall maintain at least that amount of gas
66	66	and petroleum products in the reserve except when gas and petroleum
67	67	products are being distributed in response to a disaster and for a
68	68	reasonable time needed to replenish the reserve after a disaster.
69	69	Sec. 418.356. RULEMAKING. The commission and the Texas
70	70	Commission on Environmental Quality, in consultation with the
71	71	governor, shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this
72	72	subchapter, including rules governing the distribution and storage
73	73	of gas or petroleum products maintained as part of the strategic
74	74	fuel reserve in the event of a disaster.
75	75	SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
76	76	date of this Act, the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas
77	77	Commission on Environmental Quality shall adopt any rules necessary
78	78	to implement Subchapter K, Chapter 418, Government Code, as added
79	79	by this Act.
80	80	(b) After the strategic fuel reserve program described by
81	81	Section 418.352, Government Code, as added by this Act, is
82	82	established, the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall
83	83	revise the state emergency management plan described by Section
84	84	418.042, Government Code, and the state emergency management plan
85	85	annex described by Section 418.0425, Government Code, to account
86	86	for the establishment and operation of a strategic fuel reserve
87	87	program under Section 1 of this Act.
88	88	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.