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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges |
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of waste or pollutants into water in certain stream segments, |
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stream assessment units, and drainage areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 26.0275 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.0275. RESTRICTION ON PERMITS FOR DISCHARGES INTO |
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CERTAIN SEGMENTS, ASSESSMENT UNITS, AND DRAINAGE AREAS. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Assessment unit" has the meaning assigned by the |
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commission's Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program as it existed |
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on September 1, 2025. |
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(2) "Classified segment" means any portion of Devils |
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River located in Val Verde County and identified in Appendices A and |
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C of 30 T.A.C. Section 307.10 as it existed on September 1, 2025. |
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(3) "Drainage area" means any unclassified water body |
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that drains to a stream segment or a stream assessment unit to which |
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this section applies. |
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(4) "Stream assessment unit" means an assessment unit |
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for a stream, creek, or river, or a portion of a stream, creek, or |
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river, that is located within a classified segment that is not a |
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stream segment to which this section applies. |
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(5) "Stream segment" means a stream, creek, or river, |
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or a portion of a stream, creek, or river, that is a classified |
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segment. |
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(6) "Unclassified water body" means a water body other |
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than a classified segment or an assessment unit located within a |
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classified segment. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the commission may |
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not issue a new permit authorizing the direct discharge from a |
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domestic, industrial, or commercial wastewater treatment facility |
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of any waste, effluent, or pollutants into a stream segment, stream |
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assessment unit, or drainage area to which this section applies. |
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(c) This section does not affect the authority of the |
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commission to issue: |
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(1) an individual permit for a municipal separate |
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storm sewer system; or |
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(2) a general permit for stormwater and associated |
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non-stormwater discharges. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for a permit that is submitted to the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. An application for a permit that was submitted to the |
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the |
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application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |