House Bill No. 4485 amends the Water Code by adding a new subsection (h-1) to Section 26.040, which pertains to the eligibility for a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in Texas. The new provision stipulates that if the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) denies or suspends a discharger's authority to discharge under a general permit, the commission cannot authorize that discharger to resume discharging under a general permit until five years have passed from the date of the denial or suspension.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the new rules regarding denials or suspensions will only apply to actions taken on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Any denials or suspensions that occur before this date will continue to be governed by the existing laws in effect at the time of those actions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 26.040 (Water Code 26)