Bill Text: TX HB4313 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to use public money for an environmental project.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-05-02 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB4313 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB4313-Comm_Sub.html
| 89R22993 JBD-D | |||
| By: Bell of Montgomery | H.B. No. 4313 | ||
| Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4313: | |||
| By: Bell of Montgomery | C.S.H.B. No. 4313 | ||
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| relating to the authority of a political subdivision to use public | ||
| money for an environmental project. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Section 140.014 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 140.014. AUTHORITY TO USE PUBLIC MONEY FOR | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Environmental project" means a project to reduce | ||
| greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the amount of pollutants reaching | ||
| the environment, or create public awareness of those or related | ||
| issues. | ||
| (2) "Political subdivision" means a county, | ||
| municipality, public school district, special purpose district or | ||
| authority, metropolitan or regional transit authority, port | ||
| authority, regional council of governments, regional planning | ||
| commission, county improvement district, or public improvement | ||
| district. | ||
| (b) A political subdivision may not use public money to | ||
| plan, create, or operate an environmental project, including by | ||
| directly spending money for the project or by dedicating money for | ||
| the repayment of debt issued by the political subdivision for the | ||
| project. The prohibition prescribed by this subsection applies to | ||
| public money obtained from any source, including from a tax, fee, | ||
| grant, or donation. | ||
| (c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a political | ||
| subdivision's use of public money to: | ||
| (1) comply with a state or federal law; | ||
| (2) satisfy a statutory duty imposed on the political | ||
| subdivision, including for a project described by this subsection; | ||
| (3) improve flood control, drainage, or water | ||
| supplies; | ||
| (4) implement a water conservation or drought | ||
| contingency measure; | ||
| (5) construct or operate a renewable energy | ||
| infrastructure project that provides direct service to a facility | ||
| owned or operated by the political subdivision; | ||
| (6) improve the energy efficiency or resilience of a | ||
| facility owned or operated by the political subdivision; | ||
| (7) manage vegetation necessary to maintain public | ||
| safety, protect infrastructure, prevent wildfires, or support | ||
| flood and water management activities; | ||
| (8) engage in water quality, conservation, or resource | ||
| management activities; | ||
| (9) implement roadway maintenance, erosion control, | ||
| or infrastructure safety improvements necessary for public | ||
| transportation or road durability, other than a project to | ||
| construct or maintain electric vehicle charging stations, | ||
| alternative fuel infrastructure, or projects aimed at reducing | ||
| vehicle emissions; | ||
| (10) carry out environmental or energy efficiency | ||
| initiatives in public schools, colleges, hospitals, and health care | ||
| facilities necessary to meet operational or statutory | ||
| requirements; or | ||
| (11) manage waste disposal or sanitation services. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
