Amend SB 709 by inserting the following appropriately numbered SECTION and renumbering the subsequent sections of the bill accordingly:

SECTION 4.  Section 5.315, Water Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 5.315.  DISCOVERY IN CASES REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS USING PREFILED WRITTEN TESTIMONY.  In a contested case hearing related to an application for an environmental permit delegated by the commission to the State Office of Administrative Hearings that uses prefiled written testimony, all discovery must be completed before the deadline for the submission of that testimony, except for water and sewer ratemaking proceedings.