We've posted a list of bills we're watching as the State Legislature continues to do its thing. You can get them by going to our site at http://www.tidrc.org/ and clicking on "Pending Bills" in the upper right hand corner.

We think that all of the ones we've listed are of interest in environmental enforcement, but the following are particularly worth watching from this point:

HB 450, imposing a criminal penalty for possessing glass containers in Texas river beds, looks like it will make it through the process.

The two bills [HB 1172 and SB 196], extending the Class C misdemeanor for trash burning in parts of Montgomery County to Harris County, is not looking too healthy.

My favorite, HB 2703 / SB 239, extending the Class B misdemeanor in the Penal Code for interference with a public servant to local government employees enforcing state environmental laws, seems to be working it way along happily.

HB 2714 / SB 1324, creating an administrative enforcement process and regulatory framework for recycling consumer electronic goods, is an amazing piece of writing. If passed, local governments would have to make free consumer electronics recycling available to citizens, without quantity limits. This seems too progressive for Texas, but sometimes strange bills get approved at the end of the session. This would be an absolutely big deal if passed.

HB 3388 / SB 1864 is a also potential big deal. It would mandate solid waste permit reviews in three cases: (1) every five years for poorest performers; (2) anytime a state representative wanted such a review; and, (3) anytime the local government where the facility is located wanted a review. The results of the review could be restrictions on the permit. Sounds like a good idea to me! A public hearing on this one is being scheduled.

Please let me know if you ave any bills not on the list that could impact local environmental enforcement.