89th Legislature Regular Session

SB 766

Overall Vote Recommendation
Neutral
Principle Criteria
Free Enterprise
Property Rights
Personal Responsibility
Limited Government
Individual Liberty
Digest
SB 766 is a straightforward legislative update that corrects references to the now defunct Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), replacing it with its successor agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill updates various sections of the Agriculture Code and Water Code to reflect this change, ensuring consistency in regulatory authority references, particularly in pesticide regulation and water quality protection.
Author
Judith Zaffirini
Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) fiscal note, the bill is not expected to have a significant financial impact on the state government. The primary change in the bill—updating references from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)—is an administrative update that does not alter agency responsibilities, funding structures, or regulatory processes.

Any costs associated with implementing this correction can be absorbed using existing agency resources, meaning no additional appropriations or expenditures are required. Since the bill does not introduce new programs, mandates, or regulatory burdens, it avoids creating financial strain on state agencies.

Similarly, local governments will not experience significant fiscal impacts as a result of SB 766. The bill does not impose new responsibilities on counties, municipalities, or other local entities. Given that local government interactions with TCEQ remain unchanged, the bill does not introduce new compliance costs or administrative expenses.

In summary, SB 766 is fiscally neutral, with no substantial costs to the state or local governments, ensuring that legislative clarity is achieved without financial implications.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 766 is an administrative correction bill that updates statutory references from the defunct Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to its successor agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The name change originally took effect in 2004, yet more than 100 outdated references remain in various sections of Texas law, spanning the Agriculture Code, Water Code, Health and Safety Code, and Government Code. This bill serves to align statutory language with current regulatory structures, ensuring clarity and consistency in legal references.

Because SB 766 makes no substantive policy changes, does not expand government authority, and does not create new regulations, it carries no direct implications for core liberty principles such as Individual Liberty, Free Enterprise, Private Property Rights, or Personal Responsibility. However, it does contribute to the principle of Limited Government by ensuring that Texas law is up to date and free from unnecessary confusion. At the same time, the bill does not fundamentally alter the function of government or significantly impact businesses or individuals.

Given its purely technical nature, SB 766 does not present a compelling reason for our strong support or opposition. It does not create new opportunities or restrictions, nor does it significantly alter the function of government or industry. As such, the most appropriate stance on this bill is Neutral. While statutory clarity is beneficial, this bill does not materially advance or hinder key policy priorities, making it a routine legislative update rather than a policy-driven measure. Texas Policy Research is NEUTRAL on SB 766.

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