Austin, TX – Legislation authored by State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) to protect Texas families from the dangers posed by fly-by-night chemical container storage operations is now law. House Bill 3866 was passed by the Texas Legislature with broad bipartisan support and will take effect on September 1, 2025.

The legislation was filed in response to the July 2024 Permian Basin Container (PBC) fire in northern Ector County, where a chemical container storage facility set up in an existing residential neighborhood caught fire—releasing hazardous smoke and chemicals into the surrounding area. The incident triggered a large-scale emergency response and led to groundwater contamination, raising serious public health concerns across the region.

“This is a community-driven effort that started right here at home,” Landgraf said. “Neighbors impacted by the PBC fire came to me asking for change, and I’m proud to have carried their fight all the way to the Capitol. HB 3866 becoming law is a win for West Texas and every other part of our state where families deserve to feel safe in their homes.”

House Bill 3866 sets new safety standards on large-scale facilities that collect and recondition chemical containers. The bill prohibits these facilities from operating within 2,000 feet of existing private homes. It also establishes a registration system through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and routine periodic inspections.