HB 4313 offered by Representative Cecil Bell (R-Magnolia) would deny any city, county, metropolitan or regional transit authority, regional council of governments (this would include our North Central Texas Council of Governments), or public school district from using public funds “to plan, create, or operate an environmental project” to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the amount of pollutants reaching the environment, or create public awareness of those or related issues.”

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The bill covers public money “obtained from any source, including from a tax, fee, grant, or donation.

HB 4313 would stop the public funding on basically all efforts regarding local and regional efforts to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases, by requiring that NO public funds be used for such initiatives. 

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• Climate plan initiatives or regional initiatives including NCTCOG's Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) to reduce pollution and lower greenhouse gases. It would affect any initiatives requiring funding to help get the region out of nonattainment of air quality standards.

• Community solar projects (outside of rooftop solar) funded with public money if tied to a grant or donation related to air quality

• Fleet purchases of EV's or lower emitting vehicles through the Texas Emission Reduction Plans for cities and counties

• Conducting emission inventories or installing air monitors in cities 

• Public facing EV charging infrastructure with public funding from related emission lowering grants

• Local school districts applying to the Clean Bus program

• Public transit or high speed rail if tied to air emission funding

• And more...