Bill Text: TX HB4930 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the adoption of a climate policy in a municipal charter.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-11 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB4930 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4930-Comm_Sub.html
| By: Craddick | H.B. No. 4930 | |
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| relating to the adoption of a climate policy in a municipal charter. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 9, Local Government Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Section 9.0015 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 9.0015. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "climate | ||
| charter" means an overarching or comprehensive ordinance, rule, or | ||
| other policy statement that purports to set out or address climate | ||
| change or environmental impact on areas such as water, energy, and | ||
| emissions. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 9.003(a), Local Government Code, is | ||
| amended to read as follows: | ||
| (a) Except as provided by Section 9.0045, the [ |
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| prepared by the charter commission shall be submitted to the | ||
| qualified voters of the municipality at an election to be held on | ||
| the first authorized uniform election date prescribed by the | ||
| Election Code that allows sufficient time to comply with other | ||
| requirements of law and that occurs on or after the 40th day after | ||
| the date the charter commission completes its work. The governing | ||
| body of the municipality shall provide for the submission of the | ||
| charter at the election to the extent that the provisions for | ||
| submission are not prescribed by general law. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 9.004(a), Local Government Code, is | ||
| amended to read as follows: | ||
| (a) Except as provided by Section 9.0045, the [ |
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| governing body of a municipality on its own motion may submit a | ||
| proposed charter amendment to the municipality's qualified voters | ||
| for their approval at an election. The governing body shall submit | ||
| a proposed charter amendment to the voters for their approval at an | ||
| election if the submission is supported by a petition signed by a | ||
| number of qualified voters of the municipality equal to at least | ||
| five percent of the number of qualified voters of the municipality | ||
| or 20,000, whichever number is the smaller. | ||
| SECTION 4. Chapter 9, Local Government Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Section 9.0045 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 9.0045. APPROVAL OF CLIMATE CHARTER OR AMENDMENT TO | ||
| CHARTER REQUIRED. Before a vote may be held under Section 9.003 or | ||
| 9.004, the municipality or charter commission must receive approval | ||
| on a climate charter from the appropriate state agency with proper | ||
| jurisdiction to propose a climate charter for a municipality or an | ||
| amendment to a municipality's climate charter. | ||
| SECTION 5. A climate charter adopted before the effective | ||
| date of this Act remains valid and enforceable until January 1, | ||
| 2026. Not later than January 1, 2025, municipalities that have | ||
| adopted climate charters before the effective date of this Act must | ||
| comply with the approval requirement under Section 9.0045, Local | ||
| Government Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
