The bill, H.B. No. 456, aims to enhance accessibility for non-English speakers by requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide translations of specific forms and information related to complaints filed with the commission. The new legal language added to Section 5.176 of the Water Code mandates that the commission translate information available through its publicly accessible Internet-based system and the associated complaint submission form into five languages: Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Urdu.

This initiative is designed to ensure that individuals who speak these languages can effectively access and understand the complaint filing process, thereby promoting greater participation and transparency in environmental governance. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 5.176 (Water Code 5)