S.B. No. 2692 amends Section 13.043(c) of the Water Code to clarify the process for filing an appeal regarding certain water, drainage, or sewer rates with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The bill specifies that an appeal must be initiated by filing a petition for review within 90 days after the effective date of the rate change or, in cases of appeals under specific subsections, within 90 days after the governing body of the municipality or affected county makes a final decision.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for the petition to be signed by a certain number of ratepayers. Specifically, it must be signed by either the lesser of 10,000 or 10 percent of the ratepayers whose rates have changed and are eligible to appeal, or by 10 percent of those ratepayers in the same customer class whose rates have changed and are eligible to appeal. This change aims to ensure that a significant portion of affected ratepayers supports the appeal before it is filed. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 13.043 (Water Code 13)
Senate Committee Report: Water Code 13.043 (Water Code 13)
Engrossed: Water Code 13.043 (Water Code 13)
House Committee Report: Water Code 13.043 (Water Code 13)