Bill > HB1361

This bill modifies the Texas Health and Safety Code to establish new rules for distributing funds from the low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program (LIRAP). Specifically, the bill requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to distribute all available funds collected before September 1, 2025, to counties that previously participated in the program and remitted fees, with distribution proportional to the fees collected in those counties or their regions. Counties receiving these funds can only use them to support LIRAP programs, which typically help low-income residents repair or replace older, high-polluting vehicles to improve air quality. The legislation sets a deadline of January 1, 2026, for distributing these funds and includes a sunset provision that will terminate the new distribution requirements on September 1, 2029. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, ensuring that previously collected but unspent program fees will be reallocated to support ongoing vehicle emission reduction efforts in participating counties.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1361