[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6272724,"mediaKeyId","3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898","parentId",3026297,"title","Senate hears proposal for industry‑administered beverage container refund program to boost recycling","audioSeconds",218,"startMs",5039000,"endMs",5257000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898&start=5039&end=5257","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898/thumbnail_5039000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6272724/Texas/Senate-hears-proposal-for-industryadministered-beverage-container-refund-program-to-boost-recycling","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272724-e25310bb8fafa36b69b25518dcded8a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061307&Signature=D0UvDPmbLQn0SOave~-IbJFQa~KQM~3rwtXop5AfKXdNwvjCbDP5Z0Qv51vkxn1O8pC84wgN5i0CO29cqcEUIEjQx6yg2Hocy~1v1Byb-Eh0e9GzmUzjS8GJCIfd9yTPenV5R5jN5-JUvw3iHkKEShP-hof5oY4yBR52YekJPC9G7xuooDFXjOk5QxCrdsvUAzrFDXdx2y90-QPs4yn88jkTvVNO71dSgtpt~M~tqquMDZJ3D6rRrN~TWgRFQajR2886pJ9fyxLZ24y7AJMbquWZ0d6cR3eC2AT~SehF-wR0RR6AziIDpyr3YtSKuhArGm-jWWDeH7cACXcHdwocBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas State Legislature","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 728, sponsored by Senator Roland Johnson, would create a beverage container recycling refund program administered by an industry consortium and funded through refunds and related program revenue. The bill would establish the Recycling Refund Trust Fund and authorize expenditures for redemption center construction and operation, refund payments, education, and disaster response reimbursements.

Senator Johnson framed the measure as an industry‑administered, voluntary program to recover valuable feedstock and reduce litter. “This is a bottle bill. This is a beverage container recycling program...It is industry administered,” he said, arguing the program would convert what he described as “a stack of trash” into economic value and reduce litter in waterways.

Supporters included the Container Recycling Institute and local redemption center operators, who cited decades of data from states with deposit systems showing higher beverage‑container recovery and reduced litter. Cameron Merritt and other manufacturers told the committee that local manufacturing — for example, fiberglass plants — struggle to secure glass cullet and currently import significant feedstock.

Opponents and cautious witnesses warned of implementation risks and pointed to California’s experience with fraud and complex administrative rules. Leonard Lang, who has worked with California’s program, said administrative rules and enforcement determine outcomes and urged careful drafting to protect participants. Material experts and public‑interest witnesses urged including broad industry participation in the consortium and clear anti‑fraud safeguards.

Committee testimony concluded with more than a dozen witnesses on both sides. No vote was taken; the chair left the bill pending for further drafting and stakeholder negotiation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Natural Resources April 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 728 would establish an industry consortium to administer a beverage container refund program and a trust fund to support redemption centers, education and grants; proponents argued it would reduce litter and import dependence, while opponents warned of implementation risks.","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":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272729,"Senate panel weighs Recycling Market Development Program and Texas Recycling Fund",388,3132000,3520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898&start=3132&end=3520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898/thumbnail_3132000.jpg","/articles/6272729/Texas/Senate-panel-weighs-Recycling-Market-Development-Program-and-Texas-Recycling-Fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272729-6e0eb434baf0c69d033564c05d43f7fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061307&Signature=BJ1qOY0nAK0aoTWeMvt1FDPwRCPxF7TUp3my6R-mZilu4aPojA1H7bhvvY0kqfbnyogotCpOO9sQHWUI6nqR~rAB0-NPdsudyVu5XzuUw4yILQN-FGuLRFCvesGHG4l4CB1v~BOXdvB8ObPZx9PgklCFJN9yaySRtU2Fo0TMc9p-pdUc4x0D5Jn~e7urtclu1XOjHGYYlo1rT8z34ZBrgmFX1QZNSHVykI~gBE2B~o-Ekw7jOcj51O8~bip6t1QabjwieGEv~3a4qeGoSHiZJ2YQCg2prRoJuxOvFMYXytp1DCdX~tCkJVbLJ5RuUON6KxZIUFy0PWSFaHEgFNnSHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2689 would establish a recycling market development program at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), create a Recycling Market Advisory Council, and create the Texas Recycling Fund to award grants and loans to encourage recycling‑linked economic development.

Senator Kelly Hancock described the bill as implementing the 2021 TCEQ Recycling Market Development Plan and said it would fund research, public education, financial incentives and an unpaid advisory council representing supply‑chain stakeholders. The committee substitute clarifies that the fund would not be financed by fees, taxes or penalties on private entities and would include criteria to prevent funds reaching illegitimate businesses.

Supporters included industry and advocacy witnesses: Sam Gamage of Dow described market demand for post‑consumer resins and the need for more domestic feedstocks; Logan Harrell of the Texas Chemistry Council and Luke Metzger of Environment Texas urged voluntary, market‑driven approaches and expanded access. Steve Shannon, an industry veteran, and Sarah Kaylor of The Recycling Partnership provided data on statewide waste tonnages and the economic opportunity of capturing currently landfilled recyclables.

Several witnesses pressed for attention to rural access and multifamily housing, and recommended guardrails to ensure grants spur credible recycling investments. The committee heard multiple panels of stakeholders for and against parts of the approach; public testimony concluded and the bill was left pending.","Senate Bill 2689 would create a recycling market program, advisory council and a Texas Recycling Fund to support recycling infrastructure, research, education and grants; testimony showed broad stakeholder interest and concerns about voluntary vs. regulatory approaches.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272734,"Committee questions fiscal note as bill would expand Railroad Commission role inspecting electric lines at well sites",356,816000,1172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898&start=816&end=1172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898/thumbnail_816000.jpg","/articles/6272734/Texas/Committee-questions-fiscal-note-as-bill-would-expand-Railroad-Commission-role-inspecting-electric-lines-at-well-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272734-956307d93c2426e5c5c12255c1b807f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061307&Signature=dV-S3zOpimohxDPHp08Io0CRBM1DvpliHZZg49L57zEutIvjaDOFF9sLKae~G9o0oc~ti1bDQN5m2GvdCzP~BddyVkLnxa4ssEigEkaTJdtvYb0qm5ZNsXEEuCq1~qdwxyQ-ptnofYksXCBmTlLqL-CiMWNs0kBauRIweuUf0m10hwyAD6yQIARnEq1lup0IX~aTIzV1vJ5lYS0YE~BpNZ2kxStNnfCB-snoKqecGeRaBuYiRuqwGLXtxNUjTk7sozbi4eD7LjfjoAkl28vpwGePArmKqh0eWWZGEM9QV98PJ443YRReF4nzZPbLmzh75rkeJwl9I50oUtrrKQnXPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 143, sponsored in committee by Senator Kelly Hancock on behalf of Representative Ken King, would codify a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission that allows the agencies to work together to address electrical hazards at oil and gas well sites, including notifying electric utilities to shut off power when safety hazards exist.

Senators pressed agency witnesses about a significant change in the Legislative Budget Board’s fiscal note after the committee substitute was filed. Senator Hancock noted that the substitute added a reference to PUC regulations; Natalie Dubiel, attorney for the Railroad Commission, and Travis Baer, deputy assistant director of field operations for the Railroad Commission, both said the added language expanding inspections to include whether an operator is an electric utility and to inspect to PUC standards is the primary driver of the fiscal note.

“...as filed version of this bill did not include subsection A2, which references the PUC regulations and neither did the MOU,” Dubiel testified. Travis Baer said the change would expand inspections to include power poles and overhead lines to the point of the service point where the utility connects to the customer.

Mark Wildson, manager of the Legislative Budget Board natural resources team, told the committee staff notified the LBB late that the Railroad Commission had requested an updated cost estimate; the LBB said it had not received an opportunity to revise the fiscal note when the substitute was released and that the late call had “caught us a little bit by surprise.”

Public testimony included Adrian Shelley of Public Citizen and Dale Smith of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, both supporting the bill as a way to close an oversight gap. The committee closed public testimony and left the bill pending while members asked staff to investigate the fiscal‑note process, coordinate with the LBB and the affected agencies, and return with clarifying information.","During testimony on House Bill 143, senators pressed the Railroad Commission, the Public Utility Commission and the LBB about a new provision that would require the Railroad Commission to inspect certain electric utility infrastructure at oil and gas sites; a revised fiscal note prompted follow‑up.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272739,"Committee hears plan for temporary self‑insurance pool to expand prescribed burning",213,514000,727000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898&start=514&end=727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898/thumbnail_514000.jpg","/articles/6272739/Texas/Committee-hears-plan-for-temporary-selfinsurance-pool-to-expand-prescribed-burning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272739-d37feebc5e236233a0b06dce73d28039/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061307&Signature=ZVfJ9SSijXeywBEwoz6o-~NdKH3Sccra3lYgXd-zon0MItzQHckei9w-6NuzXgs8Pub1qV2YyCgdkhAcwK3p426TaLGhdLOHQa6OO8kIBVZQ7-~sxTVv3mCHU3Hfg7TgFgV8PlmPmnnzKJ9lJHDQbBYdAbKMrQRcabCJEUOqP~7iJlboeTxlBur2xZJhCtYazdNhSbiw87kNEKHxabsO5S-6omGsgBCt1ZIDDMGv4rp1Fls6EJA1HkDAFCMBYNd9Vc0XH0p9Tau5ViAo6IX28QQZwp0KT9vDfu1q64K7Y8jmZ9Zeu5UBnhrrAPapsjhWhAW2zpTqGnEuFFhndR5seg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development heard testimony on Senate Bill 2510, a committee substitute that would create a temporary $25 million prescribed burn manager self‑insurance pool administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Senator Hancock explained the bill’s intent as a response to a shortage of commercial liability insurance for certified prescribed burn managers (CPBMs). “Insurance is an issue everywhere...there’s only 1 insurance company that meets the Texas financial liability requirements of a million per occurrence and 2,000,000 aggregate,” Hancock said, summarizing a Texas Department of Insurance report cited in committee.

Justin Penick, chair of the Texas Prescribed Burn Board, told the committee the lack of available insurance has sharply limited prescribed burning west of Interstate 45 and that a $25 million temporary pool could support over a million acres of prescribed burning annually if applied statewide. He described the proposal as patterned on an existing Texas A&M Forest Service program that assisted volunteer fire departments lacking vehicle insurance.

Resource witnesses Jared Goodman and Andy McCrady of the Texas A&M Forest Service participated; no additional FTEs or costs were identified during earlier MOU operations referenced in other parts of the hearing. The committee closed public testimony and left the bill pending.","Lawmakers considered a $25 million temporary insurance pool administered by Texas A&M Forest Service to address a shortage of liability coverage for prescribed burn managers.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272744,"Senate committee hears funding, design and governance changes for Gulf Coast protection projects",2450,204000,2654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898&start=204&end=2654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026297-6a00233c5b8a4f40abec8325e4816898/thumbnail_204000.jpg","/articles/6272744/Texas/Senate-committee-hears-funding-design-and-governance-changes-for-Gulf-Coast-protection-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272744-0cd5289ae8af67c36034fe6e2af62af9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771061307&Signature=UIhVSdacWhREiiGwTOnEObW5X~DnFyEYdVS-b3AF4Foc-J0ZJatAe88z1G1JE2fdfY7fHE0AJngzC0zvPg~gfJkk~9YvGoYLrSKfF5Ys96X0QupF2kO-MnonlnyTjpiBRrfkzEace-0FhVUajM3X3q91jdnDb-tVGfifxxg-vmc4gad6nYLkwSV~HVgVevrwV9GSyUlNthmSrf-UhXSdRn53kIeP0y4xAn~~zIhqTGfERIZleIrui4EMK8D8LyiOtJluQMNnzIx6ZemtEDxucIsHGNq4MUDS6CQFL4FBsjbeRi-viYFEwF0GsUysmC4BXjAIREB-Bp1YBTAlXBvHSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development heard testimony on legislation to fund and change governance of coastal storm-protection projects serving the Upper Texas Coast. Senators and witnesses emphasized both the scale of the Coastal Texas and Sabine-to-Galveston projects and concerns that early design choices could endanger navigation in the Houston Ship Channel.

Senator (author) explained that Senate Bill 795 would create the Gulf Coast protection account in the state general revenue fund, to be administered by the Texas General Land Office and funded by gifts, grants, donations or appropriations. “The Coastal Texas project will be the largest civil works project in The United States and will protect millions of people and hundreds of billions of dollars in property from storm surge flooding,” the author said during the lay‑out.

Michelle Bechtel, board president of the Gulf Coast Protection District, thanked the Legislature for past appropriations and described the district’s role as the non‑federal sponsor for the Corps’ projects. She said state appropriations to date total $950,000,000 and have leveraged more than $3.9 billion in federal funding, and that projects are in construction or plan to enter construction by 2026.

Committee members also considered a committee substitute to Senate Bill 410 that would change the Gulf Coast Protection District’s management and permit the governor to appoint the district’s presiding officer. Senator Middleton said the bill would require final designs for the Bolivar Gate system to comply with Chapter 66 of the Transportation Code — the Houston Pilots Licensing and Regulatory Act — to preserve two‑way navigation.

Port and pilot groups urged the committee to require designs that maintain safe two‑way traffic. Bob Sanders of the Greater Houston Port Bureau summarized independent transit modeling and said many proposed gate transits would produce collisions or groundings in simulation. Captain Clint Winter, presiding officer of the Houston Ship Pilots, recommended a single 1,500‑foot gate positioned to the east and an 80‑foot depth to accommodate future vessel sizes and preserve two‑way traffic.

No final action was taken; public testimony was closed and both bills were left pending. The committee chair said the bill changing district governance would be paired with a Senate concurrent resolution to request information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Looking ahead, committee members said they will continue to weigh the district’s financing needs against navigation safety and federal coordination as the Corps finalizes designs.","Lawmakers and stakeholders discussed two related bills that would fund and alter governance for Gulf Coast storm-protection projects, and raised concerns about gate design affecting safe navigation on the Houston Ship Channel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate hears proposal for industry‑administered beverage container refund program to boost recycling

Senate panel weighs Recycling Market Development Program and Texas Recycling Fund

Committee questions fiscal note as bill would expand Railroad Commission role inspecting electric lines at well sites

Committee hears plan for temporary self‑insurance pool to expand prescribed burning

Senate committee hears funding, design and governance changes for Gulf Coast protection projects