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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain public meetings and public hearings concerning |
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permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter M-1, Chapter 5, Water Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 5.5835 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 5.5835. LOCATION AND PAYMENT OF COSTS OF PUBLIC |
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MEETING OR PUBLIC HEARING. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, if |
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the commission, the executive director, or the applicant for the |
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permit, permit amendment, or permit renewal, under authority |
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authorizing or requiring a public meeting or public hearing to be |
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held in the county in which the facility or proposed facility that |
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is the subject of the meeting or hearing is located or proposed to |
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be located, holds a public meeting or public hearing concerning the |
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issuance, amendment, or renewal of a permit for a facility or |
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proposed facility, the meeting or hearing must be held: |
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(1) in person; and |
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(2) at a public location: |
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(A) not more than one mile from the location or |
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proposed location of the facility or proposed facility; or |
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(B) if a public location at which the meeting or |
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hearing may be held does not exist within one mile of the location |
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or proposed location, at a public location as near as practicable to |
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and not more than five miles from the location or proposed location |
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of the facility or proposed facility. |
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(b) The applicant for the permit, permit amendment, or |
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permit renewal shall pay the cost of a public meeting or public |
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hearing concerning a permit described by this section. The |
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commission by rule may establish procedures for the payment of |
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those costs. |
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SECTION 2. Section 5.5835, Water Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies only to an application for a permit, permit amendment, or |
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permit renewal submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |