Relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.

HB 146 creates the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council to study climate change effects on Texas residents. The council, composed of legislative appointees and seven public members with expertise in climatology, the economy, land management, and tourism, will assess climate impacts on health, natural resources, and the economy. It must research solutions for flooding, drought, and wildfires worsened by climate change, estimate state costs, and recommend policies by January 1, 2027. The council will hold public hearings statewide and dissolve on September 1, 2027, after submitting its final report. This bill directly affects Texas residents by establishing a state-led process to evaluate climate risks and inform future policy decisions.