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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a health impact assessment for certain transportation |
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projects of the Texas Department of Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.6045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.6045. HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT REQUIRED FOR |
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CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. (a) In this section, "health |
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impact assessment" means a comprehensive report that analyzes the |
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potential health impacts of a proposed transportation project. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the department, in |
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conjunction with the Health and Human Services Commission, the |
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and any applicable |
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metropolitan planning organization, shall perform a health impact |
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assessment of a proposed department transportation project that is |
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subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act of |
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1969 (42 U.S.C. Section 4321 et seq.). |
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(c) A health impact assessment required under this section |
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must: |
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(1) evaluate the potential negative and positive |
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health impacts of the proposed transportation project, including |
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the anticipated changes to air quality from the project and the |
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potential health impacts of those changes; |
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(2) identify the populations affected by the health |
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impacts and anticipated air quality changes described by |
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Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) include mitigation strategies to minimize the |
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potential adverse impacts and enhance the positive impacts of the |
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project. |
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(d) The department may contract with a nongovernmental |
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organization to perform a health impact assessment required under |
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this section. |
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(e) The department shall: |
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(1) make available to the public on the department's |
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Internet website a draft of each health impact assessment performed |
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under this section in English and Spanish before publishing a final |
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health impact assessment; |
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(2) provide all interested persons with a period of |
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not less than 45 days from the date the draft health impact |
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assessment is published under Subdivision (1) to provide oral or |
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written comments or data to the department regarding the draft |
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health impact assessment; and |
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(3) after the close of the comment period described by |
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Subdivision (2) and making any revisions to the draft health impact |
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assessment, publish the final version of the health impact |
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assessment in the same manner required under Subdivision (1). |
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(f) The department may not make a final decision on a |
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proposed transportation project for which a health impact |
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assessment is required under this section until at least 30 days |
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after the publication of the final health impact assessment under |
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Subsection (e)(3). |
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SECTION 2. Section 201.6045, Transportation Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a transportation project that becomes |
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subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act of |
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1969 (42 U.S.C. Section 4321 et seq.) on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |