H.B. No. 3217 amends Section 5.555 of the Water Code to enhance the process of public comments regarding matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill mandates that the executive director must respond to all public comments received during the comment period and file these responses with the chief clerk of the commission. Additionally, the chief clerk is required to transmit the executive director's decision, the public comments, and the responses to all relevant parties, including the applicant and individuals who submitted comments or requested to be on the mailing list.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new provision that requires the commission to consider all public comments submitted during the comment period when making decisions related to applications. This change emphasizes the importance of public input in the decision-making process. The amendments apply only to applications filed with the TCEQ on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Applications submitted before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 5.555 (Water Code 5)