88th Texas Legislature: Public Citizen’s Testimony
The Texas office of Public Citizen will testify on a wide range of bills and issues throughout the 88th session of the Texas Legislature, which began in January and concludes at the end of May. This page will be updated with Public Citizen’s legislative testimony as it becomes available.
May 18, 2023: HB 5 OPPOSE
Testimony against HB 5, which would give tax breaks corporations.
May 10, 2023: SB 471 OPPOSE
Testimony against SB 471, which would limit the ability to file complaints with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by allowing the agency to ignore certain community complaints.
May 10, 2023: SB 1399 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of SB 1399, which would require protectiveness review of standard air permits at least once every six years and shorten the renewal term of a standard permit from ten years to six.
May 4, 2022: HB 406 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 406, which would allow schools, places of worship, daycare centers and hospitals to request a contested case hearing on concrete batch plant seeking a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
May 4, 2023: HB 766 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 766, which would require that certain public meetings hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality be held relatively close to a proposed facility seeking a permit.
May 4, 2023: HB 926 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 926, which would allow schools, places of worship, daycare centers and hospitals to request a contested case hearing on concrete batch plant seeking a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
May 4, 2023: HB 4785 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 4785, which would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to deny a permit that would have “a disproportionately adverse effect” on a low-income population as compared to other populations.
May 4, 2023: SB 813 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of SB 813, which would allow legislators to elect to receive notice of penalties and administrative orders issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
April 25, 2023: HB 1078 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 1078, which would create a standard system to communicate to first responders the needs of people and domestic animals.
April 24, 2023: HB 4950 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 4950, which would provide tax breaks for the value of energy-efficient upgrades to real property.
April 18, 2023 HB 585 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 585, which directs the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to develop to protect water treatment facilities from catastrophes and other potential disruptions.
April 13, 2023: HB 2502 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 2502, which would leverage federal funding to invest in energy efficiency programs.
April 12, 2023: SB 1050 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of SB 1050, which would allow natural gas local distribution companies to offer energy conservation programs. The bill is the Senate companion to HB 2263, which Public Citizen also supports.
April 10, 2023: HB 5 OPPOSE
Testimony against HB 5, which would give tax breaks corporations.
April 5, 2023: HB 820, HB 2028, HB 2199 OPPPOSE
Testimony against HB 820, HB 208 and HB 2199. These three bills would impose certain annual fees on electric and hybrid vehicles. Public Citizen considers the fee amounts unjustifiable and supports lowering them.
April 5, 2023: SB 1398 NEUTRAL
Testimony on SB 1398, which would impact air quality permits for aggregate production operations and concrete batch plants.
April 5, 2023: SB 1399 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of SB 1399, which would require protectiveness review of standard air permits at least once every six years and shorten the renewal term of a standard permit from ten years to six.
April 3, 2023: HB 4984 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 4984, which would require gas pipeline facilities to report to the Railroad Commission of Texas. when they
fail to meet a contractual obligation due to a “force majeure” event such as a weather-related outage.
March 30, 2023: HB 2214 OPPOSE
Testimony against HB 2214, which would reduce the funding allocation to the light-duty motor vehicle purchase or lease incentive program.
March 30, 2023: HB 3100 NEUTRAL
Testimony on HB 3100, which would create a hydrogen infrastructure and vehicle grant program under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.
March 29, 2023: SB 1397 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of SB 1397, the Senate version of the Sunset bill for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
March 28, 2023: SB 624 OPPOSE
Testimony against SB 624, which would impose many new regulations on the renewable energy industry.
March 28, 2023: SB 1751 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of SB 1751, which would impose some regulations on the energy usage of the cryptocurrency. It would also impact the tax treatment of the industry.
March 27, 2023: HB 33 OPPOSE
Testimony against HB 33, which would bar state agencies from cooperating with the federal government on regulation of enforcement of the oil and gas industry.
March 27, 2023: HB 1158 OPPOSE
Testimony against HB 1158, which would take funds from the public health focus of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan and divert them to carbon capture projects.
March 27, 2023: HB 2263 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 2263, which would allow natural gas local distribution companies to offer energy conservation programs.
March 27, 2023 HB 3837 NEUTRAL
Testimony on HB 3837, which would continue and broaden the “Advanced Clean Energy Project” in the Texas Clean Air Act.
March 23, 2023: HB 1505 SUPPORT
Testimony in support of HB 1505, the House version of the Sunset bill for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
March 16, 2023: Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation Organizational Hearing
Testimony delivered to Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation at its first hearing of the legislative session.
March 15, 2023: HB 2127 OPPOSE
Testimony against HB 2127, which would upend a century of local control precedent and would cause many negative consequences, including costly lawsuits that would overwhelm the courts.
March 14, 2023: SB 1017 OPPOSE
Testimony against SB 1017, which would block local governments from regulating energy sources and engines. This targets local ordinances like one proposed in Dallas prohibiting gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other lawn equipment.
March 13, 2023: SB 471 OPPOSE
Testimony against SB 471, which would limit the ability to file complaints with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by charging a fee when an individual files three previous complaints in the same year that did not result in enforcement action.
Feb. 27, 2023: HB 1 RECOMMENDATIONS
Comments on HB 1, the state budget for FY 2024-2025, before the House Committee on Appropriations.