H.B. No. 5197 amends Section 13.043(c) of the Water Code to clarify the eligibility requirements for ratepayers to file an appeal regarding changes to water, drainage, or sewer rates with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The bill specifies that a petition for review must be signed by either the lesser of 10,000 or 10 percent of the ratepayers affected by the rate change, or by 10 percent of ratepayers in a specific customer class whose rates have been altered. This change aims to streamline the appeal process and ensure that a sufficient number of ratepayers are represented in the petition.

The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the Texas Legislature; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025. This legislative change is intended to enhance the ability of ratepayers to challenge rate changes, thereby promoting accountability and transparency in utility rate-setting processes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 13.043 (Water Code 13)