The bill amends Section 2003.047(i) of the Government Code to enhance the rules for certifying issues to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in contested cases referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The new provisions require both the office and the commission to jointly adopt and publish rules that address the types of issues appropriate for certification and the procedures for certifying these issues. Additionally, the bill mandates that any issue raised by a party regarding the scope of discovery must be promptly certified by the administrative law judge to the commission.

The bill also removes the previous requirement that each agency must publish the jointly adopted rules, streamlining the process. The changes aim to clarify the certification process and ensure timely communication of relevant issues to the TCEQ, thereby improving the efficiency of administrative hearings related to environmental compliance. The act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2003.047 (Government Code 2003)