The bill, S.B. No. 736, mandates the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to incorporate compost into its landscaping, capital construction, and road maintenance projects. A new section, 201.626, is added to the Transportation Code, defining "compost" as a disinfected and stabilized product of the decomposition process used for various soil-related applications. The bill requires TxDOT to utilize compost for at least 25 percent of the soil needed in landscaping projects and encourages its use in capital construction and road maintenance projects when feasible.

The provisions of this bill will only apply to contracts for projects that TxDOT first advertises or solicits bids for on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025. Contracts that are advertised or solicited before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law. This approach aims to promote sustainable practices in transportation-related projects while ensuring a gradual implementation of the new requirements.

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