SB 212

relating to certain public meetings and public hearings concerning
permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter M-1, Chapter 5, Water Code, is
amended by adding Section 5.5835 to read as follows:
Sec. 5.5835.  LOCATION AND PAYMENT OF COSTS OF PUBLIC
MEETING OR PUBLIC HEARING.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, if
the commission, the executive director, or the applicant for the
permit, permit amendment, or permit renewal, under authority
authorizing or requiring a public meeting or public hearing to be
held in the county in which the facility or proposed facility that
is the subject of the meeting or hearing is located or proposed to
be located, holds a public meeting or public hearing concerning the
issuance, amendment, or renewal of a permit for a facility or
proposed facility, the meeting or hearing must be held:
(A)  not more than one mile from the location or
proposed location of the facility or proposed facility; or
(B)  if a public location at which the meeting or
hearing may be held does not exist within one mile of the location
or proposed location, at a public location as near as practicable to
and not more than five miles from the location or proposed location
of the facility or proposed facility.
(b)  The applicant for the permit, permit amendment, or
permit renewal shall pay the cost of a public meeting or public
hearing concerning a permit described by this section. The
commission by rule may establish procedures for the payment of
SECTION 2.  Section 5.5835, Water Code, as added by this Act,
applies only to an application for a permit, permit amendment, or
permit renewal submitted on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.