By: Zwiener	H.B. No. 1821

	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, 2022, 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)  forests, wildlife, and fisheries;
	(D)  agriculture;
	(E)  recreation and tourism;
	(F)  infrastructure;
	(G)  surface water and groundwater;
	(H)  emergency preparedness; and
	(I)  state and local government finances;
	(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, 2022, 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, 2021.