Amend CSSB 1 (house committee printing) in Article VI of the bill, following the appropriations to the Commission on Environmental Quality (page VI-18), by adding the following appropriately numbered rider:

____.  Study on Desalination. (a) Out of funds appropriated above, the Commission on Environmental Quality, in cooperation with the Parks and Wildlife Department and the General Land Office, shall conduct a desalination study. The study must evaluate, for the purpose of protecting marine organisms, local industries dependent on coastal resources, and the health of coastal ecosystems:

(1)  whether diversion of marine seawater from bays or arms of the Gulf of Mexico for desalination is appropriate; and

(2)  tolerances that are appropriate for the discharge of waste from the desalination of treated marine seawater or brackish water into bays or arms of the Gulf of Mexico.

(b)  The study must analyze relevant factors, including:

(1)  acceptable brine concentrate salinity;

(2)  brine concentrate toxicity;

(3)  ambient temperature of brine concentrate;

(4)  water velocity in the mixing zone;

(5)  the cumulative volume of discharged desalination waste relative to bay circulation and exchange; and

(6)  discharge location factors to minimize potential:

(A)  harm to marine organisms; and

(B)  impairment of benefits for marine organisms provided by freshwater inflows.

(c)  Not later than September 1, 2026, the commission shall submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study. The report must:

(1)  determine whether diversion of marine seawater from any bay or arm of the Gulf of Mexico for desalination is appropriate and whether discharge of waste from the desalination of treated marine seawater or brackish water into a bay or arm of the Gulf of Mexico is appropriate;

(2)  recommend tolerances for the discharges described by Subdivision (1) according to the factors listed in Subsection (b);

(3)  propose standard modeling to be used to evaluate discharge permit applications; and

(4)  make any other recommendations for measures necessary to protect marine organisms, local industries dependent on coastal resources, and the health of coastal ecosystems from potential effects of desalination diversion and discharge.