Bill Text: TX HB1168 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Texas Division of Emergency Management of the potential effects of droughts and wildfires in this state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB1168 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB1168-Introduced.html
| 89R200 ANG-D | ||
| By: Raymond | H.B. No. 1168 | |
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| relating to a study by the Texas Division of Emergency Management of | ||
| the potential effects of droughts and wildfires in this state. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "division" means the | ||
| Texas Division of Emergency Management. | ||
| SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The division shall conduct a study | ||
| regarding the potential effects of droughts and wildfires in this | ||
| state over the next 50 years. The study must include an assessment | ||
| of: | ||
| (1) the projected ecological effects of droughts and | ||
| wildfires, including: | ||
| (A) harm to plants, animals, and water bodies; | ||
| and | ||
| (B) damage to state parks and other public lands; | ||
| (2) the projected effects of droughts on the | ||
| temperature in urban areas, including: | ||
| (A) increases in the demand for energy and water; | ||
| (B) demands on public health facilities; | ||
| (C) any decline in business productivity; and | ||
| (D) any decline in tourism; | ||
| (3) the projected economic effects of droughts and | ||
| wildfires, including: | ||
| (A) agricultural losses; and | ||
| (B) damage to infrastructure; | ||
| (4) vulnerabilities to droughts and wildfires; | ||
| (5) the availability of local resources to combat | ||
| wildfires and adapt to droughts; and | ||
| (6) potential mitigation strategies for reducing the | ||
| risk of and damage caused by droughts and wildfires. | ||
| (b) In conducting the study, the division shall solicit and | ||
| consider information from: | ||
| (1) the Department of Public Safety; | ||
| (2) the Department of Agriculture; | ||
| (3) the Parks and Wildlife Department; | ||
| (4) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and | ||
| (5) other agencies, municipalities, and environmental | ||
| organizations as necessary. | ||
| SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than March 1, 2026, the | ||
| division shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the | ||
| speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing | ||
| committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the | ||
| division, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of | ||
| Agriculture, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas | ||
| Commission on Environmental Quality a written report that includes | ||
| a summary of the study and any legislative recommendations based on | ||
| the study. | ||
| SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2027. | ||
| SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
| immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
| elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
| Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
| immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
