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Read. Follow. Verify.Texas allows county judges to request emergency TCEQ orders for post-storm debris disposal
Last action · August 20, 2025: Referred to Disaster Preparedness & FloodingSponsor: Mike Olcott
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas HB 187 allows the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue s for solid waste disposal, waste management, or when requested by a county judge following a weather emergency, regardless of whether a formal disaster declaration is in place.
The measure establishes a direct legal pathway for local county leadership to request state environmental regulatory relief following severe weather, independent of whether state or federal disaster declarations have been formally issued.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
County judges
County judges gain the authority to request emergency or temporary environmental orders from the state following a weather emergency.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
The commission is required to review and respond to emergency and temporary order requests submitted by county judges as soon as practicable.
Key Facts
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may issue an emergency or temporary order concerning solid waste disposal, management, or controlled outdoor burning upon the request of a county judge.
- Such requests can be made following a weather emergency in the county regardless of whether a state of disaster or emergency has been formally declared.
- The commission is required to respond to a county judge's request as soon as practicable after receiving it.
- Section 5.502 of the Water Code does not apply to requests submitted under this new section.
Show all 5 facts
- The new provisions apply to weather emergencies occurring before, on, or after the effective date of the Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can request an emergency order from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under this bill?
Is a formal disaster declaration required to request these emergency orders?
What types of post-storm activities can these temporary orders cover?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Aug 20, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding
- Aug 20, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Aug 18, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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