The bill, S.B. No. 1768, mandates the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to conduct a health impact assessment (HIA) for certain transportation projects that are subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The HIA is defined as a comprehensive report that evaluates the potential health impacts of a proposed project, including both negative and positive effects, anticipated changes to air quality, and the populations affected by these changes. The bill outlines specific requirements for the HIA, such as identifying mitigation strategies to minimize adverse impacts and enhance positive outcomes. Additionally, TxDOT is allowed to contract with nongovernmental organizations to perform these assessments.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that TxDOT must make draft HIAs available to the public in both English and Spanish before finalizing them, allowing a minimum of 45 days for public comment. After considering the feedback and making necessary revisions, TxDOT must publish the final HIA. Importantly, TxDOT cannot make a final decision on the proposed project until at least 30 days after the final HIA is published. The provisions of this bill will apply only to transportation projects that come under review after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

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