H.B. No. 3322 proposes amendments to the procedure for amending or revoking certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain water utilities in Texas. The bill modifies Section 13.2541 of the Water Code by amending Subsection (b) to clarify the conditions under which a landowner can petition for expedited release from such a certificate. Specifically, it removes the requirement that the land must be in a county with a population of more than 50,500 and less than 52,000, while adding provisions that allow for expedited release in counties adjacent to those with populations of at least 1.2 million.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new Subsection (e-1), which allows landowners submitting a petition to agree to pay the certificate holder an amount necessary to pay off a federal loan associated with the certificate. The certificate holder is required to provide the petitioner with the amount needed to settle the federal loan upon request, and the utility commission is empowered to mandate the acceptance of such payments. The changes will only apply to proceedings that commence on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 13.2541 (Water Code 13)