The bill 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). It requires the executive director to respond to each public comment received during the comment period and mandates that the chief clerk of the commission transmit the executive director's decision along with the public comments and responses to the applicant and other interested parties. Notably, the bill introduces a new provision that the commission must consider all public comments submitted during the comment period when making decisions related to applications.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the amended provisions will only apply 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 at the time of filing. This ensures a clear transition between the old and new regulations regarding public participation in the environmental decision-making process.

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