AUSTIN — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has filed House Bill 3866, legislation designed to protect Texas homeowners from dangerous chemical containers being brought in and stored in their neighborhood. 

The legislation comes in direct response to the July 2024 Permian Basin Container fire in northern Ector County, where a chemical storage facility that recently moved into a residential area went up in flames and sent hazardous smoke into nearby neighborhoods and contaminated groundwater sources relied upon by area residents. Due to the type of materials involved, the fire smoldered for days, prompting local and state agencies—including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)—to coordinate air and water quality monitoring, distribute bottled water to affected residents, and conduct soil testing to protect public health.

“No family should have to fear for their safety because hazardous chemicals are stored just a stone’s throw from their home,” Landgraf said. “This bill establishes a commonsense safety buffer for families living in unincorporated areas where zoning laws don’t exist to provide that protection.”

Under House Bill 3866, outdoor containers holding dangerous chemicals cannot be stored within 2,000 feet of a private residence that existed before the storage facility. To ensure compliance, these containers must be registered with TCEQ and will undergo annual inspections to verify they remain outside the 2,000-foot boundary. The bill also preserves local control, allowing cities to enforce or adopt even stricter regulations if they choose.

“This is about common sense and public safety,” Landgraf added. “I’ve worked closely with the people impacted by the PBC fire in its aftermath. I want to make sure no West Texas family—or any Texas family—has to experience what our community went through last summer.”