BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4106

By: Dean

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is a need to simplify the complaint process in regard to water and wastewater services at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 4106 seeks to provide for a procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4106 amends the Water Code to authorize the Public Utility Commission of Texas by rule to adopt a simplified procedure to resolve a complaint by a tenant against an owner about a bill for water or wastewater service brought under statutory provisions relating to restitution, submetering rules, or nonsubmetering rules, with respect to apartments, manufactured home rental communities, and other multiple use facilities. The bill establishes that the Administrative Procedure Act does not apply to the resolution of a complaint using a procedure described by the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.