HB1438 - Relating to climate change planning and reporting.

      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.