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February 5, 2024

In Brief

Welcome to the latest edition of the Monday Morning Messenger.


In our first story of the morning, TPGA is happy to report how a Texas Senator is going up to bat for the gas industry and introduced a resolution to block the White House ban on gas furnaces.


In our second story of the morning, TPGA covers a proposed rule from the FMCSA designed to expedite the CDL process.


Thirdly, the February issue of Texas Propane magazine is hot off the press, and we provide a digital copy of our Look Back edition.


Lastly, the Texas Comptroller reports on fraudsters attempting to prey on Texas taxpayers and scam them out of thousands of dollars with fraudulent, threatening tax lien letters.


Explore our Quick Links section, offering access to the latest Winter Weekly Update, Propane Service Corporation (PSC), NPGA Scholarship Application, and quick access to the 2023 propane appliance rebates expiring at the end of the month.

In this issue


  • In Brief
  • Cruz Resolution to Block White House Gas Furnace Ban
  • CDL Acceleration
  • February Magazine
  • Texas Tax Lien Scam
  • Quick Links

Calendar

February 6-8, 2024

NPGA Winter Board of Directors, Committee & Section Meetings


February 8, 2024

LPG Charity Fund Poker Tournament


February 10, 2024

Texas Propane magazine ad deadline


February 13, 2024

New Year, New Grants Webinar

FULL CALENDAR

Affinity Partners

Lone Star Energy Group Workers Comp Insurance

&

Basys Credit Card Processing

&

NoCell Technologies

Texas Senator Files Resolution to Block White House Ban on Gas Furnaces

Late last week, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced a disapproval resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in an effort to push back against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards. The Biden administration’s rule will go into effect on February 16, 2024, forcing manufacturers to sell only furnaces that convert at least 95% of fuel into heat.


The rule will effectively ban all non-condensing furnace models, coercing a majority of American households to adopt electric heat pumps or pay thousands of dollars to renovate their homes to meet the requirements of new residential gas furnaces.


Steve Kaminski, President & CEO of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is quoted in Cruz's release stating, “NPGA and its members oppose the Department of Energy's proposed efficiency standards, citing the agency's failure to present clear and convincing evidence. The association supports any Congressional action to push back against these efforts and to enact legislation or compel DOE to create two separate product classes — condensing and non-condensing appliances — to preserve consumer choice and availability.”


In addition to NPGA Congressional efforts, NPGA has filed suit against the U.S. DOE on this matter.


TPGA is closely monitoring this federal matter and will report back on any new developments.

FMCSA Proposal Will Help to Accelerate the CDL Process

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed changes to enhance the flexibility and efficiency of the CDL program by removing certain regulatory hurdles to allow applicants to obtain a CDL in less time than it currently takes without compromising safety. FMCSA believes the proposed changes will further address CMV driver shortages, enhance supply chain stability, and provide appropriate regulatory relief without impacting safety.


Proposed changes include:

Out-of-State Applicants: The proposed rule suggests allowing states discretion to offer skills testing to out-of-state applicants, irrespective of the state where training was obtained. This may enable applicants to obtain a CDL sooner by scheduling the skills test in a state with shorter waiting times.


CLP Holders Who Have Passed the CDL Skills Test: Pursuant to § 383.25(a)(1), CLP holders currently may operate a CMV on public roads and highways only for the purpose of BTW training, provided a CDL holder is physically present in the front seat and observes the CLP holder directly. The new rule proposes an exception that allows CLP holders who have passed the CDL skills test to operate a CMV for any reason, as long as a CDL holder is physically present, the CLP driver has passed the CDL skills test, and the driver possesses documentary evidence from the testing state.


Skills Test Waiting Period to be Removed: The waiting period of 14 days before CLP holders can take the CDL skills test is proposed to be eliminated. This rule, initially in place to ensure CLP holders undergo behind-the-wheel (BTW) training before the test, is considered unnecessary now that CLP holders must complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) before the skills test.


Third-Party Knowledge Testers and Examiners: States may now use third-party knowledge examiners for CDL testing, but they must adhere to specific training, certification, and oversight requirements outlined in the regulation. Additionally, states need to ensure that third-party knowledge testers administer tests electronically and follow auditing and monitoring guidelines similar to those for skills testers and examiners.


TPGA will continue to monitor the progress of this proposal and report any finalization.

READ RULE PROPOSAL

Check Out February 2024 Magazine: Discovering Our Roots

The February 2024 issue of Texas Propane magazine is hot off the press, and we have a lot of different news for you:

·       Tracing The Roots of The Bottled Gas Industry

·       A Look Back: TPGA's Inception Year

·       Propane Provides Power for Texas Movie Magic

·       ProCOT Corner: 2023 A Year in Review

·       Business Beat: Four Steps to Calmer Customers

·       Employers News: Have questions on Texas Employment Law and Hiring, Federal and Texas Wage & Hour Law, Unemployment Claims and Appeals, Employee Policy Handbooks, Drug Testing, Workplace Privacy Issues, Background Checks, and Social Media? Check out our information on the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Employer Conference.

READ NOW

Thank you to Our Advertisers!

Bergquist

BLT Tanks

CUI

Energy Tech Solutions

Enterprise Products

Fisk Tank Carrier Inc.

Gas Equipment Company

Legacy Energy Consulting

Lock America

Lone Star Energy Group

Longhorn Propane

Marshall Young Insurance

Marshall Young Insurance

Meeder Equipment Co.

METSA

Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance

Propane Plus LLC

Propane Service Corporation

Quality Steel

Tarantin Industries

Total Energy Corp

Warm Thoughts Communications

White River Distributors

Texas Fraud Alert: Criminals Texas Taxpayers with Lien Scam

Some taxpayers have received fraudulent letters claiming the State of Texas will seize their assets and property for unpaid taxes unless payment is made within seven days. These illegitimate letters did not originate from the Comptroller’s office.


For years, criminals have used aggressive and threatening scam faxes, letters and phone calls impersonating state agencies. The criminals demand immediate payment, often via a specific payment method, and threaten to seize assets and property or significantly increase the liability if you fail to pay or provide sensitive personal information.


See sample letter.



Be incredibly wary whenever you receive unexpected messages like these, as they can be a trap. The criminals’ threats are designed to get you to react by calling the criminals’ phone numbers or clicking on a fake link to solve the problem. The consequences can be catastrophic. Not only can you lose your money, but if you click on links in scam emails or texts, you also could become a victim of identity theft or have malware installed on your phone or computer.



If you receive an unexpected message of this type, do not call the phone number or use the website or link provided in the letter, email or text. Most importantly, do not give the sender personal information or money. Instead, please email the Comptroller or call the Comptroller’s Collection Team at 800-252-8880.


Learn more about protecting yourself from tax fraud.

Quick Links

January 31, 2024

Winter Weekly Propane

Price & Supply Update

U.S, Gulf & Texas

VIEW NOW

Compliance Redefined: 

Propane Service Corp Offers a Catalog of Essential Products for Your Propane Business

SHOP NOW

NPGA Scholarship Deadline is Right Around the Corner

NPGA Member Kids Apply by

February 15, 2024

LEARN MORE

Propane Appliance Rebates 2023 Deadline Almost Here

Get apps in by extended

deadline of February 15, 2024

LEARN MORE
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