[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6093028,"mediaKeyId","2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a","parentId",2850166,"title","Committee adopts committee substitutes and reports several bills favorably; roll-call tallies recorded","audioSeconds",353,"startMs",571160,"endMs",924460,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a&start=571&end=924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a/thumbnail_571160.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093028/Texas/Committee-adopts-committee-substitutes-and-reports-several-bills-favorably-roll-call-tallies-recorded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093028-96eb127d2cb6a9dae5b65149b22860da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190115&Signature=hEPEOKbOGrZS5s-4rW3mQCYMmDlFH1Ay11mEZQH~Pr5GHS5FQIQPPdpBWzyAnFfzxQmW~Jq5vhRxrORPVaKHJ8CtJRIxy~BtqQaFWqrh2N4NLEGX~MPbyXJk9fU3kW-PL8svJ5Ia3OOus5CsEhiz8W~R0jlQJfoAPQA4yAcvL3lp5i3cug84njfKS1cyXlQMS5xeik9kGkCpF7XPgIL17kAFUPp7jWT3QDeCmFyPguLgGFwpugiYWwuR869-76pQNE1O3IbGcyLnkjGEc1wB9TS1w4UgoiBuJYAg61XSo2jKmmU-vgCg2VOyXeLGMIGWOcuAAHQnsXIjQ~8rrBZ-Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","The Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development adopted committee substitutes and voted to report several bills favorably to the full Senate during the hearing.

Senate Bill 2037 (Senator Sparks) — committee substitute adopted; committee reported the substitute favorably to the full Senate. The clerk recorded an 8–0 tally. Roll-call entries in the transcript include recorded ayes from Senators Birdwell, Dean Zaffirini, Alvarado, Blanco, Flores, Hancock, Hughes and Sparks. The committee also certified SB 2037 for the local and uncontested calendar with no objection.

Senate Bill 1758 (Senator Birdwell) — committee substitute adopted; the committee reported the substitute favorably. The transcript recorded “6 ayes, 2 nays” for Senate Bill 17 58 and the chair announced the bill was reported favorably.

Senate Bill 1759 (Senator Birdwell) — committee substitute adopted; the committee reported the substitute favorably. The clerk recorded a tally later confirmed as 8 ayes and no nays, and the committee recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar.

Ending: Committee actions were procedural committee-substitute adoptions and favorable committee reporting; the bills advance to the full Senate or calendar processes indicated.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Natural Resources April 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development adopted committee substitutes and reported Senate Bills 2037, 1758 and 1759 favorably to the full Senate; roll-call tallies were recorded in committee proceedings.","taxTitle","Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16855,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093033,"Senate committee debates battery-disposal bill, hears recycling industry testimony, leaves measure pending",0,2055640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a&start=2055&end=2055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a/thumbnail_2055640.jpg","/articles/6093033/Texas/Senate-committee-debates-battery-disposal-bill-hears-recycling-industry-testimony-leaves-measure-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093033-57bf4be3269157706434bb53e6e354e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190115&Signature=AJZdYLDiVcT0G-9RXtUNPGBAkUXAqNsGfanQxj093ztcP9DQplevart~-vjOrPU4Fv12RYXrheYvoqixUhGpGTkvK~LniTUJ~plI~5HRykdc2PTLcsyVaIEfMq26bZVKRdSY8HvUEXd5lZcUslyTUjoXDtaLr4jOCMt2Kq5aZSYRKJ4p0pwQy9FjVncvkrV-9cIyyVetHfyxcX~Icr82IQiwb8LMBe758kZCg7459-5kNSJEq0oXzF~~hr2dYdzpI3~ZPD3ktChB6PyVkCl3ObSu1gJJ9W2C3ujOHi-b1lCTT8-mQXoCUdffQvC1Jl~XEbqS1SNrGPMNAIUMixsPEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development heard Senate Bill 2050, a bill to restrict the improper disposal of consumer energy storage modules (including lithium-ion batteries), and left the measure pending after receiving industry testimony and clarifications in a committee substitute.

Senator Brian Birdwell, author of the bill, told the committee lithium-ion and similar batteries pose a significant fire risk at waste and recycling facilities and that current Texas law addresses lead-acid batteries but not modern consumer rechargeable batteries. “Lithium ion batteries pose a significant fire risk and improper disposal can result in catastrophic damage at these facilities,” Birdwell said.

The committee substitute clarified several points: it exempts de minimis household disposal during an educational transition period so individual consumers would not be penalized; it preserves existing lead-acid battery law; it removes an example list of battery types to avoid narrowing the definition; it prohibits placing batteries in mixed municipal recycling or mixed metal recycling streams unless a local program specifically allows a designated curbside receptacle; and it shields owners/operators of recycling and waste facilities from liability for batteries that arrive in their streams.

Charlie Fritz of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality attended as a resource witness. Jordan Vexler, owner of Monterey Metal Recycling Solutions and secretary of the Recycling Council of Texas, testified in support, describing safety risks and urging industry involvement in public education and collection efforts.

Senators and the author discussed emphasizing industry-led education and avoiding unfunded mandates on counties or municipalities. The author said the bill’s intent is to enable TCEQ to develop guidance and for industry to play a leading role in public education and safe collection practices.

Ending: Following testimony and discussion, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 2050 pending for further consideration and possible future hearings focused on recycling measures.","Senate Bill 2050 would prohibit improper disposal of consumer energy storage modules (including lithium-ion batteries), grant the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rulemaking authority, and protect waste facility operators from liability; the committee took testimony from recyclers and left the bill pending.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093038,"Senate committee hears Railroad Commission request to add fees for oil-and-gas waste permits; leaves bill pending",1123,911464,2035160,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a&start=911&end=2035","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a/thumbnail_911464.jpg","/articles/6093038/Texas/Senate-committee-hears-Railroad-Commission-request-to-add-fees-for-oil-and-gas-waste-permits-leaves-bill-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093038-0f1dfa9b601d89f2bb04ee728fba9cb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190115&Signature=IEDK8zMe1w0-wVSGGWIPau60BNUaH8hzIZ233l15HoPERsUi8cvbQAOk2rcMOG6BpBCbM5EmpeGU9kqwi2CPsEqt1L5WZ~WCD7A54sNIPJ8Lhxkm7FnKR2irtv-A5po9JnH~RmgSLD~1G0E~RNlKf1L9gYRqPC1w5R~YtHzU97E8sR-x9~UN~BkxzVDpbT~Zo58EUEmHYCWHxzH0sZhzoQK5vyMxaZo04YsvBHwHtV5~5TF5YaHk32BHtpOHQVRvmWKCS3IQn5tgLUmG6W~GpefeV7uZ9yeGof0fTVGmsfkMQWImxDeVMRCHt7yo1Dg9Yuhq0z~96Ii-8wAIt0a7nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development left Senate Bill 2122 pending after extended questioning about how new permit fees and surcharges would affect the Railroad Commission’s budget and state General Revenue.

Dean Zaffirini explained the bill as a companion to House Bill 3158 and said the Railroad Commission requested it to modernize permitting fees and ensure adequate funding for environmental oversight. “Senate Bill 2122 would strengthen the Commission's ability to oversee environmental permitting and compliance while ensuring a more efficient customer focused permitting process,” she said.

Paul DuBois, assistant director of technical permitting at the Railroad Commission, testified as a resource witness that the agency does not currently collect application fees for reclaiming, recycling, treating, or land disposal of oil and gas waste and that the Environmental Permitting and Support Unit’s workload has grown. DuBois described the historical move in 2011 to make the commission more fee-based and explained the commission’s surcharge rule (150% in one unit) used to generate revenue for its oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund.

Committee members repeatedly pressed how any new fee revenue would be accounted for and whether it would simply increase general revenue dedicated balances rather than reduce general revenue appropriations. Mark Wiles and James O’Connor of the Legislative Budget Board told the committee that offsetting general revenue could be done by a contingency revenue rider during the budget process, but that it is a policy choice for the legislature. “If it was an intent or an interest or decision that the legislature wanted to make, that's how it could happen,” an LBB representative said.

The fiscal estimate discrepancy also drew scrutiny. The author referenced an earlier expectation of roughly $487,000 annually, while the fiscal note reflected $1,217,500; DuBois acknowledged omitting the surcharge when first estimating revenues and said adding the surcharge accounts for the larger figure.

Given open questions about how fee receipts would be returned as offsets to general revenue and how surcharges would be used consistently across programs, the committee left the bill pending and did not take public testimony.

Ending: Committee left SB 2122 pending for further fiscal review and possible contingent budget adjustments; staff from the Railroad Commission and LBB were asked to remain available for follow-up questions.","Senate Bill 2122 would authorize the Railroad Commission to charge application fees ($500–$3,000) and use a surcharge mechanism to fund permitting work for oil and gas waste disposal. The committee questioned fiscal treatment of fee revenue, differences in fiscal estimates, and whether new fee revenue will offset general revenue appropriations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6093043,"Senate panel delays enforcement on plugging long-inactive wells, leaves bill pending",453,25650,478740,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a&start=25&end=478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2850166-22db53d69ede6bcd725bf8663ad5b00a/thumbnail_25650.jpg","/articles/6093043/Texas/Senate-panel-delays-enforcement-on-plugging-long-inactive-wells-leaves-bill-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093043-47a23924aafdf9ec56dd418afd4df8f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190115&Signature=emaQD~Gkk9hkHvjsAhFmgS33i-P3qB3L7BlxyrlqAt2CwTzmlePbk4PQmk95pQu6Qr0hw1MBBIXoZ9VuQwKUorlVMxZadCT9SSpGZ2rFIpMWFaxiyW9DHScSsMlO6DEoE6Z-ChpqDSFeeFqJ1nzGVYnWG55F4Jf8072R8z2uQG8T-2voiP6CpSWFblf5lBbVUD0rm-YIKBb6GO20VhHzOG2DmNoH6gRppUFeEMwkI2gMfoXjoK44mVoC9gtkmMvj7RHEwubQzQZOzMgHk418DhqDgp7XgzgC2wXA2C~q~wd~Wkz3Q1GnbIza2UuEazYpVBq1ZYQ3tMaoYTffNHfF5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate members on the Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development left Senate Bill 1150 pending after the bill’s author described changes intended to delay enforcement and clarify reporting and waiver standards for certain inactive oil and gas wells.

Senator Nathaniel Middleton, the bill’s author, told the committee the substitute delays enforcement for two years to allow operators and the Railroad Commission time to plan implementation, while keeping the bill’s reporting and effective-date provisions intact. “We’re pushing back the bill for 2 years because we had some concerns about some of the complexity with the compliance plan,” Middleton said.

The substitute would apply to wells that have been inactive for more than 15 years and were originally completed more than 25 years ago. The bill, as explained, preserves a requirement for a Railroad Commission report that gives a “better understanding of this problem,” and clarifies elements of a waiver process for plugging requirements by using a “reasonably prudent operator” standard to measure demonstrated financial hardship.

Committee members generally praised the work on the substitute. Senator Judith Blanco thanked Middleton and staff for “working on this” and said the measure “is really gonna help relieve the situation,” noting there are 820 orphan wells in her district per the Railroad Commission. Senator Sparks also complimented Middleton and emphasized state variation in geology and the need to avoid prematurely plugging wells that could be accessed in the future.

Chairing members clarified that the bill would “go into effect this year” while the enforcement mechanism in the compliance plan would be tolled for two years, creating a moratorium on adverse actions tied to compliance plans during that period. “So there would be a 2 year period of no … sanction on those owners,” the chair said.

No additional testimony was taken; the chair said the bill would be left pending and expected to be voted on the following week so members could review the substitute language.

Ending: The committee left the bill pending for further review; no formal vote on the substitute or final recommendation was recorded during the hearing day.","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development left Senate Bill 1150 pending after the author described a two-year delay to enforcement and technical fixes to reporting and waiver standards concerning inactive oil and gas wells under Railroad Commission jurisdiction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts committee substitutes and reports several bills favorably; roll-call tallies recorded

Senate committee debates battery-disposal bill, hears recycling industry testimony, leaves measure pending

Senate committee hears Railroad Commission request to add fees for oil-and-gas waste permits; leaves bill pending

Senate panel delays enforcement on plugging long-inactive wells, leaves bill pending