By Cyrus Reed
Key Deadlines for the Texas 89th Legislative Session
Well it’s finally here. The end of the 89th Legislative Session is coming on June 2nd, meaning it is a race to get bills passed and to the Governor’s Desk. There are some important deadlines coming up, including May 12th, the last day to pass a house bill out of committee and May 16th, the last day the House can pass a House bill out of the House. Finally, the last day to pass a Senate bill out of the house is May 27th. The senate has “looser” rules and can pretty much do stuff up until the last minute.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bills
Some good bills that Sierra Club supports are out of committees and moving but with deadlines looming it will be tight for many of them. What are our priorities? Great question.
SB 783: Modern Energy Codes for New Construction
One bright spot appears to be SB 783, which allows the State Energy Conservation Office to adopt more modern energy codes for new residential and commercial construction. That was approved by the Senate and has now had hearings in the House and moved out of the House Committee on State Affairs this week. While a version of the bill was already scheduled for consideration on the House floor it was delayed until later this week to allow the senate version of the bill to get set on the calendar. So looking good for that bill!
SB 1915 and HB 4372: Ambitious Energy Efficiency Goals (Stalled)
Other energy priorities have some work cut out for them. Our highest priority - an ambitious energy efficiency savings goal through passage of SB 1915 (Sen. Eckhardt) and HB 4372 (Rep. Turner) - is effectively dead, as neither bill has even had a hearing due to utility opposition.
A More Modest Efficiency Proposal: SB 2994
A much more modest efficiency goal bill - SB 2994 by Sen. Nathan Johnson - had a great hearing last week and is a work in progress. While Sierra Club is generally supportive we are working to strengthen the bill and make sure that it is a real step forward on increasing energy savings programs.
Advisory Councils for Energy Efficiency: SB 2717 and SB 2554
Two similar bills - SB 2717 (Texas Energy Efficiency Council) by Sen. Menendez - and SB 2554 (Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee) by Sen. Hancock - would establish new advisory bodies composed of state agencies to work on coordinating energy efficiency and demand response programs. While the first is more public facing - creating a public website to help Texans learn how to save energy - the second is more focused on meeting our reliability standard. Both are out of committee but yet to be considered on the Senate floor but we are working hard to get both bills passed. HB 3826 - the companion to SB 2717 - is on the house floor Monday!
Energy Education and Payment Assistance: HB 1359 and HB 3237
We are also hopeful that a great payment assistance and education bill by Rep. Ana Hernandez will move to the House floor soon as HB 1359 has already been sent to Calendars but time is marching on! Another great bill - HB 3237 by Rep. Turner - would continue a great reporting requirement on energy consumption and reduction by political subdivision, universities and state agencies and is through committee and onto the Calendars Committee but yet to make it to the House floor.
Water Conservation and Infrastructure Bills
As Texas faces growing water challenges, several important bills are making their way through the Legislature that could have a major impact on conservation efforts and long-term water security. We're pushing for essential guardrails on large-scale water infrastructure projects to ensure that environmental protection remains a top priority. With deadlines approaching, the fate of critical water legislation hangs in the balance.
HB 3728: Establishing Salinity Standards
On the water side, one of our biggest priorities - HB 3728 - finally got a hearing. The hearing went well with 26 individuals signed up in support and only one - the Texas Desalination Association, not surprisingly - against. Rep. Morales Shaw is working hard to get the bill out of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism. We hope to get it out of committee this week but timing will be tight!
Help Protect Texas Coastal Waters
HB 3728 would direct TCEQ to release long-term salinity studies and establish standards for salinity to protect our bays and estuaries. We need help reaching the Chair of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism to get this bill passed.
We're asking folks to take five minutes to call Chairman Will Metcalf. Below, you'll find a script you can follow. We encourage everyone to personalize the script by telling your own story. Keep it short and sweet - and encourage your friends and network to do the same.
Phone: (512) 463-0726
Send an email here or will.metcalf@house.texas.gov.
“Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I live in [CITY/AREA]. I am calling because, as Chair of the Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee, Rep. Metcalf has enormous power to pass HB 3728, which would require TCEQ to establish salinity standards to protect Texas bays and estuaries. With seawater desalination expanding quickly, we can’t afford to wait any longer without clear and enforceable salinity standards. This bill is a common-sense step to protect not just the environment, but jobs, seafood, recreation, and a way of life that makes Texas’ coast unique. Please tell Rep. Metcalf to pass HB 3728. Thank you for your time.”
HB 4028: Tackling Plastic Pollution
Another great bill - HB 4028 by Rep. Zweiner - which would require restrictions on preproduction plastic has yet to have a hearing. Why? The Texas Chemistry Council and others that produce the plastics and waste that might have to meet new standards don’t like the bill. We will keep pushing for a hearing.
HB 29: Reducing Water Loss in Texas Cities
One bill we support - HB 29 - passed the House this week. The bill, by Rep. Gerdes, requires the six largest cities to look at and audit their water losses in their water systems, and if needed, come up with a loss mitigation plan. While many large cities opposed the bill due to added studies and regulations, Sierra Club supported it but worked with the author Gerdes and cities to add some amendments on the House floor.
If passed, the bill should help answer the question of how much water we are losing in our six largest cities, and require mitigation if they are not meeting certain thresholds. The bill has already passed the Senate meaning if the Senate takes the amendments added in the House it can become law. Reducing water loss in our existing water systems by fixing leaky pipes is one of the lowest cost solutions to our water crisis.
SB 7/HB 16: Expanding Texas Water Supply Projects
One of the biggest bills this session is SB 7/HB 16, which are companion bills intended to expand the state’s infrastructure and investment in water supply. While the Sierra Club was “on” the bill in the Senate, the House version has been improved by adding new programs that can be funded including wastewater treatment, water reuse, projects associated with Agricultural Conservation Fund and the Economically Distressed Area Program would be included in the house version of the bill.
Sierra Club supports the bill, but we continue to call on putting in commonsense guardrails for some of the proposed water supply options that could be authorized by the bill, including marine desalination, new reservoirs, conveyance of water over long distances and produced water (oil & gas wastewater). We will continue to work for new water infrastructure, with adequate protections for our environment and ecologies.
Threats to Renewable Energy Growth in Texas
Unfortunately, several terrible bills that would increase consumer costs in our electricity market appear to be moving forward.
SB 819: New Permits for Solar and Wind Projects
First, SB 819 by Sen. Kolkhorst which creates new permitting requirements only for solar and wind facilities at the PUCT was passed by the Senate and has been referred to the House Committee on State Affairs. The bill creates a state level Environment Impact Study requirement and required setbacks. While many of these provisions could make sense for certain projects located in unique habitats, the bill is written as a broad-brush to slow down wind and solar facilities at exactly the time that Texas energy demand is expanding.
SB 388 and SB 715: Favoring Fossil Fuels Over Renewables
Two other anti-renewable energy measures - SB 388 by Sen. King - and SB 715 - by Sen. Sparks - would create new requirements on wind and solar facilities and others designed to slow down the development of wind and solar and give incentives to gas and other fossil fuel plants. SB 388 requires that at least 50% of new generation built in ERCOT be “dispatchable,” but not including battery technology, and require solar and wind companies to pay for “dispatchable” credits.
SB 715 requires existing solar and wind companies to “firm” their power by either building “dispatchable” generation or paying others for “Firming,” essentially a task on them which is ultimately passed onto consumers. SB 715 passed out of committee recently and could be on the Senate Floor next week. A version of SB 715 - HB 3356 - recently passed out of the House Committee on State Affairs on a 8-7 vote. The bill - which is retroactive - would fundamentally change our energy market and create a disincentive to development of wind and solar. It would also be expensive for our grid and our consumers at exactly the same time as energy costs are going up.
Sierra Club is working hard to stop these bills from proceeding in both the Senate and House. And you can help!
Help Us Protect Renewable Energy
Ever wondered what you can do to defend renewable energy in Texas, keep our bills low, and make our grid more resilient? Well, we need your voice now to protect our clean energy future.
We're asking folks to take five minutes to call the Chair of the House State Affairs Committee, Rep. Ken King. Below, you'll find a script you can follow. We encourage everyone to personalize the script by telling your own story. Keep it short and sweet - and encourage your friends and network to do the same.
Phone: (512) 463-0736
Send an email here or ken.king@house.texas.gov.
“Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I live in [CITY/AREA]. I am calling because, as Chair of the State Affairs Committee, Rep. King has enormous power to stop SB 819 and SB 388 and protect renewable energy in Texas. Renewable energy lowers costs, creates jobs, and strengthens our grid. I don't want my energy bills any higher. These bills are direct attacks on Texas' reputation as a leader in renewable energy. Don't let them set Texas back. Please tell Rep. King to stop SB
819 and SB 388. Thank you for your time.?
New Nuclear Energy Subsidies and Concerns
While Texas urgently needs investment in clean, affordable energy, lawmakers are advancing a troubling bill that would funnel massive taxpayer subsidies into new nuclear development. Sierra Club is against this costly, high-risk approach and advocating for stronger environmental and public accountability as the debate heads to the Senate.
HB 14: Office of Nuclear Development
HB 14 - which creates a vast new Office of Nuclear Development in the Governor’s Office - the bill passed the House easily. Sierra Club is opposed to the bill which would give grants to the nuclear industry for “new” development, including up to $200 million per project. Sierra Club worked with offices on several amendments, but most were ultimately not offered, though one good amendment by Rep. Erin Zweiner was made that requires that as part of the criteria for the grants, public support and environmental considerations. Fortunately, there appears to be more skepticism in the Senate on the wisdom of providing taxpayer funds for risky, and expensive new nuclear power plants. The worst aspect of the bill is that these grants could go to new nuclear plants that would not even serve the Texas grid, but instead individual large loads like data centers or chemical plants.
Protecting Texas Tree Canopies: The Ash Juniper Battle
A dangerous bill moving through the Legislature could weaken local tree protections and allow widespread clearcutting of Ashe juniper trees across the Hill Country. Sierra Club is fighting hard to stop this bill and protect the tree canopies that are essential for healthy ecosystems, clean air, and resilient communities.
SB 1927 and HB 3798: Clearcutting Threats to Hill Country
A bill that allows clearcutting of Ashe Juniper trees - SB 1927 - in cities with tree ordinances passed the Senate and was heard that week in the House. Our Conservation Chair - Craig Nazor - was there to oppose the house version of the bill - HB 3798 - by Rep. Ellen Troxclair. Rep. Troxclair’s bill could lead to major reduction in tree canopy in certain areas in the hill country with no mitigation for the loss of these trees. Sierra Club will work to stop the bill in the house.
The State Budget and Environmental Funding
Conferees have been named to work out the differences between the Senate and House version of the budget, passed by the Senate and House. These 5 Senators and 5 Representatives have been named to work on those differences. Important to the Sierra Club are Rep. Chairman Armando Walle and Sen. Robert Nichols who will be meeting to work out the differences between the budget for the Natural Resource Agencies, such as the Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. We have provided our recommendations to the conferees as we advocate for money to plug wells, provide real money for water infrastructure for parks and wildlife protection and money for inspectors and others at the TCEQ.
What’s Next: Join Us to Defend Texas’ Future
The final weeks of the 89th Texas Legislative Session will decide the future of critical energy, water, and environmental protections across the state. While some good bills are advancing, too many harmful proposals are still in play — threatening our clean energy future, natural resources, and communities. Every day counts, and your voice can make a difference.
Together, we can push back against bad bills, champion stronger conservation policies, and fight for a more sustainable future. Contact your legislators, share this update, and stay engaged — the future of Texas depends on it.