Senate Committee on Natural Resources

Committee Information

CHAIR

VICE-CHAIR

MEMBERS

 

DIRECTOR:
Jeffrey Waldock

DEPUTY DIRECTOR:
Weston Hall

CLERK:
Jennifer Trevino
Senior Policy Analyst & Clerk

TEL:
(512) 463-0390

LOCATION:
Sam Houston Building, 325

Video/Audio

— Archives

Interim Charges

  • Protecting Texas from Wildfires: Study the state’s wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies. Evaluate the effectiveness of fuel management practices, including prescribed burns and mechanical thinning, to reduce fuel loading on public and private lands. Assess the vulnerability of utility infrastructure in high-risk areas and the adequacy of early warning systems. Make recommendations to enhance state and local coordination and improve the long-term resiliency of Texas communities against catastrophic wildfires.
  • Ensuring Responsible Renewable Energy Decommissioning: Study the lifecycle and decommissioning of wind and solar facilities. Evaluate the adequacy of current financial assurance requirements to ensure site remediation and protect landowners from decommissioning costs. Examine the environmental impacts of disposal and recycling for wind turbine blades and solar modules, specifically addressing concerns regarding landfilling, hazardous material leaching, and component toxicity. Make recommendations to strengthen state oversight, ensuring responsible land restoration and the proper management of decommissioned materials.
  • Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
    • Senate Bill 494 (89th Legislature), relating to the establishment of a theft of petroleum products task force;
    • Senate Bill 1145 (89th Legislature), relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations;
    • Senate Bill 1806 (89th Legislature), relating to the inspection, purchase, sale, possession, storage, transportation, and disposal of petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, and oil and gas waste; creating criminal offenses and increasing the punishment for an existing criminal offense;
    • House Bills 48 (89th Legislature), relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Department of Public Safety; and
    • House Bill 49 (89th Legislature), relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
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