Bonnen's Environmental Record

In the last legislative session, Dennis Bonnen blocked 15 separate bills to reduce toxic emissions.  Click on the bill number below for details.

HB 440, HB 547, HB 760, HB 1740, HB 1745, HB 2363, HB 2475, HB 2545, HB 2642, HB 2722, HB 2890, HB 2934, HB 3117, HB 3156, HB 3157

Worse, he has supported a slew of bills that should embarrass the chair of the Environmental Regulation Committee, including:

HB 3780, which limited TCEQ’s ability to use information of pollution violations gathered by private citizens, even if that information was true and was the only source of information about the illegal act. The bill conflicted with requirements in existing federal environmental law. Rep. Bonnen ended up amending this bill to SB 12, which was signed into law.

HB 2994, which provided property tax breaks to build nuclear power generators.

HB 1603, in 2005, which attempted to circumvent the Texas Open Beaches Act and allow a small group of homeowners in Bonnen’s district to encroach on the beach.

HB 2758, in 2005, which restricted a citizen’s ability to participate in a contested case hearing.

HB 2875, in 2003, which changed the definition of "disposal" of hazardous waste, medical waste, low-level radioactive waste, etc., to limit criminal penalties. Companies disposing of hazardous waste on their own grounds could not be prosecuted when the contaminants leave the property into the soil, water or air.

HB 2877, also in 2003, which restricted public participation in TCEQ permitting procedures.

Posted: 23-Aug-2007; Updated: 23-Aug-2007