The Senate Committee on Natural Resources convened on May 21, 2025, to discuss significant legislative proposals impacting environmental policy and public engagement in Texas. The meeting focused on two primary bills: House Bill 2,440 and House Bill 42,71.

The first item on the agenda was House Bill 2,440, presented by Senator Parker. This bill aims to ensure that major policy changes regarding Texas transportation are conducted transparently and not solely through agency rulemaking. Senator Parker emphasized that the bill serves as a safeguard to keep the public, rather than bureaucratic entities, in control of transportation policy. Following the presentation, the committee moved to public testimony; however, no registrants were present to provide input on the bill. Consequently, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending for further consideration.

Next, Senator Flores introduced House Bill 42,71, which addresses public meetings held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) concerning requests for authorization to operate composting facilities. This bill was prompted by a recent denial of a public meeting request related to a proposed composting facility in Lee County, despite receiving over 1,800 public comments and requests from legislators. Senator Flores expressed concerns that the refusal to hold a public meeting undermines community input and erodes trust in the permitting process.

Senator Flores proposed a committee substitute for the bill, which would require TCEQ to hold public meetings upon request from local legislators for such facilities. The substitute aims to ensure that community voices are heard and respected in environmental decision-making. The committee discussed the three tiers of composting permits established by TCEQ, noting that the lowest tier currently does not allow for public meetings or input. The proposed bill seeks to amend this by allowing public meetings for all tiers if requested by legislators.

Charlie Fritz, deputy director of the waste permits division at TCEQ, provided insights into the agency's permitting process and confirmed that the bill would facilitate public meetings and input for composting applications. The committee members expressed support for the bill, with some suggesting that similar provisions should apply to other types of permits.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of community engagement in environmental decisions and the need for transparency in the permitting process. The committee plans to revisit both bills in future sessions, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to ensuring public participation in environmental governance.