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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to communications between the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality and the governor, the lieutenant governor, or |
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a member of the legislature. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 5, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 5.180 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 5.180. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CERTAIN GOVERNMENT |
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OFFICIALS. (a) In this section, "communicate" means a statement, |
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correspondence, or any other form of oral, written, or electronic |
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communication. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature may communicate |
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with a commission official or employee concerning any matter before |
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the commission. A commission official or employee who receives a |
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communication under this section is not required to be recused from |
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the matter discussed in the communication. |
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(c) The commission official or employee shall receive a |
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communication described by Subsection (b). |
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(d) If the commission receives written communication |
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described by Subsection (b), the commission shall include in the |
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record of the matter before the commission a copy of the written |
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communication. |
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(e) If the commission receives a communication described by |
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Subsection (b), the commission shall provide for any party subject |
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to the matter discussed in the communication an opportunity to |
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respond to the communication. |
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(f) An individual may not communicate with a commission |
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official or employee under Subsection (b) concerning a matter that |
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affects a business entity in which the individual has a substantial |
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interest or in which a person related to the individual within the |
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first degree of consanguinity has a substantial interest, as |
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determined by Section 572.005, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |