SB 3074

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