By: Darby (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 4426
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2025;
  May 12, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
  Resources; May 22, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 22, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for
  commercial surface disposal facilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 91, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 91.118 to read as follows:
         Sec. 91.118.  TERM AND RENEWAL OF COMMERCIAL SURFACE
  DISPOSAL FACILITY PERMIT. (a) In this section, "commercial
  surface disposal facility" has the meaning assigned by Section
  91.116.
         (b)  Unless otherwise provided by law, a permit for a
  commercial surface disposal facility:
               (1)  is valid for a term of not more than 10 years; and
               (2)  carries with it the right to apply for successive
  renewal on expiration for areas within the boundaries of the
  existing permit.
         (c)  In determining the proper term of a new permit for a
  commercial surface disposal facility, the commission may consider
  the applicant's history of compliance with commission rules and
  permits issued by the commission for similar waste management
  facilities based on previous inspections, quarterly reports, and
  other relevant evidence documented by the commission.
         (d)  In determining the proper term of an amended or renewal
  permit for a commercial surface disposal facility, the commission
  may consider the applicant's history of compliance with commission
  rules and permits issued by the commission for the subject facility
  or similar waste management facilities based on previous
  inspections, quarterly reports, and other relevant evidence
  documented by the commission.
         (e)  An application for renewal of a permit must be made not
  later than the 120th day before the date the existing permit
  expires.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  the issuance, amendment, or renewal of a permit by the Railroad
  Commission of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. The
  issuance, amendment, or renewal of a permit by the commission
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect on the date of issuance, amendment, or renewal, and that law
  is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
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