HB4413 - Relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.

      H.B. No. 4413         AN ACT   relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass   feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Subdivisions (8-a) and (8-b) to read as follows:                 (8-a)  "Renewable biomass" means:                       (A)     materials, pre-commercial thinnings, or   invasive species from National Forest System land and public lands,   as that term is defined by 43 U.S.C. Section 1702, that:                             (i)     are byproducts of preventive treatments   that are removed:                                   (a)  to reduce hazardous fuels;                                   (b)     to reduce or contain disease or   insect infestation; or                                   (c)  to restore ecosystem health;                             (ii)     would not otherwise be used for higher   value products; and                             (iii)  are harvested in accordance with:                                   (a)     applicable law and land   management plans; and                                   (b)     requirements for old growth stand   maintenance, restoration, and management direction and large tree   retention under Sections 102(e) and (f), Healthy Forests   Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. Sections 6512(e) and (f)); or                       (B)     any organic matter that is available on a   renewable or recurring basis from nonfederal land or land belonging   to an Indian or Indian tribe that is held in trust by the United   States or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by   the United States, including:                             (i)  renewable plant material, including:                                   (a)     feed grains and other   agricultural commodities;                                   (b)  plants and trees;                                   (c)  algae; and                                   (d)  microorganisms; and                             (ii)  waste material, including:                                   (a)  crop residue;                                   (b)     vegetative waste material,   including wood waste and wood residue;                                   (c)     animal waste and byproducts,   including fats, oils, greases, and manure;                                   (d)  food waste and yard waste;                                   (e)  plant-derived waste oils;                                   (f)  municipal solid waste; and                                   (g)     waste derived from a wastewater   treatment facility.                 (8-b)     "Renewable chemical" means a monomer, polymer,   plastic, formulated product, or chemical substance produced from   renewable biomass feedstocks or certified under a third-party   certification system for mass balance attribution identified by the   commission under Section 361.4215.          SECTION 2.  Section 361.4215, Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 361.4215.  MASS BALANCE ATTRIBUTION.  The commission by   rule shall identify third-party certification systems for mass   balance attribution that may be used for the purposes of Sections   361.421(6) , [ and ] (6-a) , and (8-b) .          SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall   adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this   Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 4413 was passed by the House on May   13, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 4413 was passed by the Senate on May   23, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor