Bill Text: TX HB457 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 457

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to an alert system for notification of the release of toxic chemicals by a manufacturing facility.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-02-28 - Referred to Environmental Regulation [HB457 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB457-Introduced.html

	89R1973 LRM-D

	By: Morales of Harris	H.B. No. 457



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to an alert system for notification of the release of toxic
	chemicals by a manufacturing facility.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The heading to Section 505.017, Health and
	Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 505.017. NOTICE ISSUED UNDER EMERGENCIES; TOXIC
	CHEMICAL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
	SECTION 2. Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as
	follows:
	(c) If the responsible state agency determines that a
	release will substantially endanger human health or the
	environment, the agency shall, not later than 30 minutes after
	making the determination, notify persons in the area in which the
	facility is located of the release using the alert system
	established under Subsection (d). When the agency determines a
	release is no longer a threat to human health or the environment,
	the agency shall notify persons using the alert system.
	(d) The state emergency response commission shall develop
	and maintain a toxic chemical emergency alert system to notify
	persons in the area in which the facility is located of a release
	that will substantially endanger human health or the environment.
	The commission may partner with other state agencies in developing
	the alert system and shall allow persons to register for a preferred
	method of receiving a message under the alert system. In developing
	the alert system, the commission may use as a model the alert
	systems established by Subchapter L, Chapter 411, Government Code,
	and Section 51.854, Water Code. The alert system must provide a
	person with the option of not receiving the alerts.
	(e) The toxic chemical emergency alert system must:
	(1) provide notification through reverse 9-1-1 calls,
	text messages, e-mails, social media, and other instant messaging
	systems in both English and Spanish; and
	(2) allow the state agency providing the notification
	to modify the notification based on:
	(A) the distance of the release to the person
	receiving the notification; and
	(B) the projected movement of the release.
	(f) An alert issued by the toxic chemical emergency alert
	system must include:
	(1) each area affected by the release, including a
	geographic display of the severity of the threat posed by the
	release;
	(2) a link to an Internet website or other message
	system that maintains current information on each affected area;
	(3) a link to an Internet website or other message
	system that describes a symptom of any illness caused by the release
	that may require emergency medical treatment;
	(4) the chemicals involved in and toxicity of the
	release;
	(5) the projected movement of the release; and
	(6) instructions for protection from exposure to the
	release or for reducing exposure to the release.
	(g) The state emergency response commission shall review
	and modify the toxic chemical emergency alert system, as
	appropriate, every four years.
	SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2027, the state
	emergency response commission, as defined by Section 505.004,
	Health and Safety Code, shall establish the toxic chemical
	emergency alert system as required by Section 505.017, Health and
	Safety Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.