The bill amends the Water Code by adding Section 5.517, which grants the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) the authority to issue emergency or temporary orders regarding solid waste disposal and controlled outdoor burning of debris at the request of a county judge following a weather emergency. This provision allows the TCEQ to act regardless of whether a state of disaster or emergency has been declared. The commission is required to respond to such requests as soon as practicable, and it specifies that Section 5.502 does not apply to these requests.

Additionally, the new section clarifies that it applies to weather emergencies occurring before, on, or after the effective date of the Act, which will take effect 91 days after the end of the legislative session. This legislation aims to streamline the process for managing debris and waste in the aftermath of weather-related disasters, ensuring timely responses to local needs.

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