Bill

SB 26

85(R) - 2017
Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development
House Environmental Regulation
Read Bill & Check Bill Status
Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development
House Environmental Regulation
Energy
Energy & Environment
Environment
Natural Resources
State Agencies

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Craig Estes

Co-Author(s)

Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Eddie Lucio Jr.
José Rodríguez
Royce West
Judith Zaffirini

Sponsor(s)

Brooks Landgraf

Bill Caption

Relating to the Texas emissions reduction plan and other related programs and measures to reduce emissions.

Fiscal Notes

An impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

Under current law, certain programs and incentives exist to promote the use of vehicles which implement alternative fuels. SB 26 would expand and create more such programs.


State agencies would be required to acquire alternative fuel vehicles during replacements, and political subdivisions would be encouraged to do the same. Statewide incentives and grant programs would be created for the purchase or lease of alternative fuel vehicles. Current grant programs would be expanded in application. Grants for alternative refueling facilities would be expanded and prioritized for the Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. In addition, the expiration for several of these programs would be changed from a static date and would instead expire after meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s ambient air quality recommendation for ozone.

Also noteworthy, SB 26 would create an incentive program that would subsidize the purchase or lease of certain new alternative fuels light duty vehicles so long as the purchaser or lessee agrees to register and operate the vehicle in this state for a time to be determined by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill infringes the principles of limited government and the free market by distorting the alternative energy market and picking winners and losers in the economy. For these reasons, we oppose SB 26.

We would further note that we understand there are political considerations involved in this bill relative to complying with federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations. We do not take political considerations into account as a factor in our vote recommendations. While it may be necessary for the state to be in compliance with federal regulations, we believe it would be better to find ways to comply without providing market-distorting grants and subsidies that benefit favored industries.