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 these responses, along with the comments themselves, must be transmitted to the applicant and any individuals who submitted comments or requested to be on the mailing list for the permit action. Notably, the bill removes the requirement that public comments must be "relevant and material" for the executive director's response.

Additionally, 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 aims to ensure that public input is taken into account in the decision-making process. The amendments will 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)