H.B. No. 5597 amends the definition of a "Galveston County port" within the Transportation Code. The bill expands the definition to include not only Galveston County but also Chambers County, specifying that a Galveston County port is a location in either county where a vessel enters or departs, along with the waterway leading to that location from the Gulf of Mexico.

The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, thereby allowing for the inclusion of Chambers County in the definition of a Galveston County port, which may enhance the region's maritime activities and economic development.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 66.002 (Transportation Code 66)