H.B. No. 3333 introduces a new restriction on permits for direct discharges of waste or pollutants into specific river segments and drainage areas in Val Verde County, particularly affecting the Devils River. The bill adds Section 26.0275 to the Water Code, defining "classified segment" as portions of the Devils River identified in regulatory appendices and "unclassified water body" as any water body that is not classified. Under this new section, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is prohibited from issuing new permits for direct discharges from domestic or industrial wastewater treatment facilities into both classified segments and unclassified water bodies that drain into classified segments, with certain exceptions for municipal storm sewer systems and general stormwater permits.

The law will apply only to permit applications submitted on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, meaning that any applications submitted prior to this date will be governed by the existing laws at that time. This ensures that the new restrictions do not retroactively affect previously submitted permit applications.

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