As we mentioned earlier this month, now that the 60 day mark of this year’s Texas legislative session has passed, bills are beginning to quickly make their way through the Capitol building.
To help you keep up with it all, we’ll be sharing regular updates on some of the Austin-related bills.
Here’s what we’ve got on tap this week:
The issue: Battery recycling – According to the Alliance for a Clean Texas, 3 billion batteries are tossed into US landfills each year, leaking toxins underground that can spread to nearby waterways. Nationwide, 34 states have passed some sort of Producer TakeBack Recycling law, which forces manufacturers to provide for the proper recycling of the products they produce, including batteries, lightbulbs, paints, and electronics. Texas already has a take-back program for televisions and computers, but not for batteries.
Photo by John Seb Barber from Leeds, UK
The bill: A committee hearing for HB 1874 was held last week. If passed, the bill would mandate the creation of a statewide recycling program for batteries.
What’s next?: HB 1874 has already had a committee hearing, but it won’t advance without continued support from state lawmakers, which means that now is the time to email or call your elected representative and share your opinions about the bill. You can figure out who represents you here.
On the advocacy front, the Alliance for a Clean Texas and Texas Campaign for the Environment are really leading the charge in support of this bill. You can send a letter to your state representative through the Alliance for a Clean Texas here and through the Texas Campaign for the Environment here.
The issue: Bus transit – With all of the ongoing and future plans for construction on Austin’s major highways, traffic is only bound to get worse before it gets better. One possible way to help ease that congestion is to allow Cap Metro buses to drive on the shoulder during these construction periods, speeding up traffic and providing an additional perk to public transit riders.
The bill: Several Austin-area representatives (including both Democrats and Republicans) have coauthored a bill allowing Cap Metro buses to drive on the shoulder during periods of construction.
What’s next?: The bill has been filed as HB 1656 and has been referred to the House Transportation Committee, where Austin-area Representative (and one of the bill’s authors) Celia Israel sits. The next step is for the bill to receive a committee hearing, during which the general public can come to the Capitol and share their opinions. You can track the bill using the instructions we shared last week, so that you know when the committee hearing has been scheduled and make plans to attend. You can also simply contact your state representative to share your opinions about the bill, and if you support the bill, you can contact members of the House Transportation Committee to encourage them to set a date for the hearing.
(Please note – Not all bills necessarily receive a committee hearing. That decision is typically left up to the discretion of the committee. If a bill doesn’t receive a committee hearing, it essentially dies).
The issue: Trees – In order to protect trees within the city, Austin (as well as several other cities in Texas) has several rules in place that prevent trees from being cut down. Currently, you need to get the city’s permission to cut down a tree on your property that is 19 inches thick or larger. If the city grants you permission to cut the tree down, then you have to plant a new tree in its place or pay into a tree-planting fund.
Austin also has a much stricter heritage tree ordinance, which prevents property owners from cutting down certain tree varieties that are 24 inches thick or greater, unless they can prove the tree is diseased, a safety risk, or preventing a reasonable use of the land.
Why does the city have these rules in place? A recent study from the US Forest Service found that Austin’s urban forest is worth $34 million, helping to remove pollution from the air, capture stormwater, reduce runoff and pollution in our waterways, mitigate climate change, and reduce energy costs by providing shade.
The bills: State Senator Donna Campbell has filed SB 782, which if passed, would effectively end Austin’s protective tree ordinances. Her bill basically says that the government cannot prohibit a landowner from trimming or removing trees on their own land. A similar bill, HB 2535, has been filed in the House by Representative Bill Zedler.
What’s next?: SB 782 has been assigned to the Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs Committee. You can add the bill to your personal bill tracker (using these instructions) so that you know when and if it will be given a public committee hearing. You can attend the hearing and provide your feedback then. You can also contact your state representatives to share your opinions, as well as reach out to the members of the Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs Committee (especially if your representative serves on the committee).
