Relating to requirements for certain meteorological evaluation towers, the official text

H.B. No. 2898

AN ACT

relating to requirements for certain meteorological evaluation

towers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 21.071, Transportation

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 21.071. [PAINTING AND MARKING] REQUIREMENTS FOR

CERTAIN METEOROLOGICAL EVALUATION TOWERS; OFFENSE.

SECTION 2. Section 21.071, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsections (c-1),

(c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows:

(a) In this section:

(1) "Meteorological[, "meteorological] evaluation

tower" means a structure that:

(A) [(1)] is self-standing or supported by guy

wires and anchors;

(B) [(2)] is not more than 12 [six] feet in

diameter at the base of the structure; and

(C) [(3)] has accessory facilities on which an

antenna, sensor, camera, meteorological instrument, or other

equipment is mounted for the purpose of documenting whether a site

has sufficient wind resources for the operation of a wind turbine

generator.

(2) "Military aviation training facility" means a

base, station, fort, or camp at which any branch of the United

States armed forces regularly conducts aviation training.

(c-1) A person may not erect a meteorological evaluation

tower unless the person provides notice to the department in

accordance with this subsection of the person's intent to erect the

tower. Notice provided under this subsection must:

(1) be on a form prescribed by the department;

(2) be submitted through the department's Internet

website not later than the 30th day before the date erection of the

tower begins; and

(3) contain the following information:

(A) the name, address, and contact information of

the owner or operator of the meteorological evaluation tower;

(B) the proposed location of the meteorological

evaluation tower, including the site's latitude, longitude, and

ground elevation and the tower's height above ground level;

(C) the date the person proposes to begin

erecting the meteorological evaluation tower; and

(D) any other information the department

considers necessary to determine the ownership, physical

characteristics, or location of the meteorological evaluation

tower.

(c-2) The owner or operator of the meteorological

evaluation tower shall notify the department in the form and manner

prescribed by the department of any change in the information

contained in the notice provided for the tower under Subsection

(c-1).

(c-3) Not later than the 30th day after the date the

department receives notice of a person's intent to erect a

meteorological evaluation tower under Subsection (c-1), the

department shall provide a copy of the notice to:

(1) each federally owned or operated radar

installation or military aviation training facility in this state

whose boundaries are within 50 nautical miles of the tower;

(2) the county judge of each county in this state that

contains a radar installation or military aviation training

facility described by Subdivision (1); and

(3) the county judge of each county in this state

within 25 miles of a radar installation or military aviation

training facility described by Subdivision (1).

(e) The department shall adopt rules to implement and

administer this section, including rules requiring a person[:

[(1)] who owns or [,] operates[, or erects] a

meteorological evaluation tower [to provide notice to the

department of the existence of or intent to erect a meteorological

evaluation tower; and

[(2)] to register the [meteorological evaluation]

tower with the department.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2898 was passed by the House on May 2,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 129, Nays 8, 1 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2898 was passed by the Senate on May

22, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor