Measure to ban carbon taxes fails in Texas House

Leading off today’s edition of “Edge of the lege” is a bill that – amid a climate crisis – would have forevermore prohibited the state from adopting a carbon tax, one of the most efficient ways to reduce global warming pollution. Crazy!

Here’s our recap of legislative happenings related to the environment from Monday, May 12, 2025.

House floor

House Joint Resolution 138 (Alders) proposed a constitutional amendment that would prevent the imposition of a carbon tax in the state of Texas. Because it’s a constitutional amendment it needed a two-thirds majority to make it to a public vote and, fortunately!, it failed to meet that threshold. This doesn’t mean that a carbon tax is forthcoming from the legislature, but at least it doesn’t tie the hands of future lawmakers by foreclosing the possibility of a tax in the future.

The House did pass another proposed constitutional amendment. This one by Rep. Brooks Landgraf would shift 10% of the revenue generated from oil and gas production taxes, that currently go to the Rainy Day Fund, to a new Texas STRONG fund. The new fund would invest in community projects in parts of the state heavily affected by oil and gas production. Another 2% of revenues would be shifted to oil and gas cleanup and emissions reductions projects. 

Senate floor

The Senate passed SB 261 (Perry), which aims to ban the manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, and sale of cultivated meat. Advocates for this measure pointed to the deleterious impact cultivated meat could have on the livestock market and the state economy. Opponents of this measure argue that cultivated meat provides a more sustainable alternative to farming because it has a lower environmental impact. 

In a win for water conservation, the Senate passed House Bill 517 (Harris Davila). This bill prevents Home Owners Associations (HOAs) from fining homeowners for having brown or discolored lawns when the property is subject to a watering restriction imposed due to drought conditions. Now, homeowners won’t be penalized for adhering to municipal regulations designed to conserve water. Hopefully this bill will help to alleviate confusion for homeowners as we head towards Texas’ hottest season.

Senate Committees

Senate Bill 2497 (Zaffirini) was approved in the Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in the Senate. This bill is designed to address concerns regarding murky or smelly water. Although these conditions are not generally harmful to health, they still pose a threat to public confidence in their drinking water and may push consumers to purchase unsustainable plastic water bottles. 

Finally, Senate Bill 2850 (Menéndez), to establish a pollinator health task force – also passed through the Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. I testified on behalf of Environment Texas at the committee hearing in favor of the bill. The task force will identify ways to help save the bees, butterflies and other pollinators of the state. A companion bill, HB 1437 by Rep. Mary Gonzalez, already passed the House.