BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1237

By: Guillen

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that current law only allows a 30-day window for the renewal of an expired occupational license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and that after this period a person may not renew the license but may obtain a new license by complying with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an original license. The bill author has also informed the committee that this short time frame can lead to unnecessary lapses that impact workers and industries that rely on these licenses. H.B. 1237 seeks to help prevent unnecessary disruptions in employment and industry operations caused by expired licenses by extending the renewal period in order to provide flexibility for professionals who may miss the renewal deadline due to unforeseen circumstances, while maintaining accountability through increased fees for late renewals.

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 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1237 amends the Water Code to change from 30 days or less to not more than 90 days the period of time during which a person's occupational license or registration issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been expired that triggers the authorization for the person to apply for renewal of the license or registration by paying to the TCEQ a renewal fee in an amount prescribed by TCEQ rule not to exceed 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee. The bill authorizes a person whose license or registration has been expired for at least 90 days but not more than one year to apply for renewal of the license or registration by paying to the TCEQ a renewal fee in an amount prescribed by TCEQ rule not to exceed two times the normally required renewal fee. The bill changes from more than 30 days to at least one year the amount of time that a person's license or registration has been expired that triggers the prohibition against the renewal of the license or registration.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.