SB 278

relating to employment restrictions for former Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality employees; providing an administrative
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 5, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 5.062 to read as follows:
Sec. 5.062.  CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR FORMER EMPLOYEE
RESTRICTED.  A former commission employee may not accept employment
in an industry regulated by the commission, as described in Section
5.013(a), before the second anniversary of the date the person
ceased to be a commission employee.
SECTION 2.  Section 7.052, Water Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (b-5) to read as follows:
(b-5)  A person who hires a former commission employee in
violation of Section 5.062 is subject to an administrative penalty
not to exceed an amount that is equal to three times the employee's
SECTION 3.  Section 5.062, Water Code, as added by this Act,
applies only to a person who ceases to be a Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality employee on or after the effective date of
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.