Alert – Hearing Tomorrow – Tree Legislation in the 2017 Texas Legislature Special Session

The 30-day Special Session of the Texas Legislature is winding down. Senate Bill 14, a bill that would undermine all local city ordinances regulating tree removal on private property has passed the Senate but its companion bill, House Bill 70 has not passed out of the House committee.

Tomorrow, August 8th at 9:00 am, the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce will hear testimony on House Bill 7. House Bill 7 was a reintroduced tree mitigation bill from the Regular Session that was passed by both the Senate and House but was vetoed by the Governor. It was amended today to preempt local control and includes parts of SB 14 that will allow clear-cutting in new developments.

Here are some actions you can take (for or against):

1.  You can call your senator here: http://actnow.io/CR8EBxT

2.  Call 512-572-4153

3.  Text LIVEOAK to 52886

4.  You can come to the hearing tomorrow at 9:00 am in room E1.016 at the Capitol

If you would like more background, you can view http://defendtexastrees.org. This a site set up in opposition to state legislation that limits local control of trees in development but it also contains all the press related to this issue for your information.

You can also view a recent television report on the issue here.

Contact Jason Alfaro, Chair, ISAT Legislative Committee if you would like more information on tree related bills in this Special Session.    361.219.2075     jalfaro@cityofkingsville.com