Bill > HB3535

This bill requires operators of small wastewater treatment facilities (called "package plants" with capacity under 500,000 gallons per day) to develop and implement comprehensive emergency preparedness plans to ensure continued wastewater treatment services during extended power outages lasting more than 24 hours. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will oversee these plans, which must include strategies such as maintaining automatic backup generators, sharing generator capacity with other facilities, using portable generators, implementing on-site electrical generation, hardening electrical systems, and creating emergency service capacity rules. Operators must submit their plans by May 1, 2026, and implement them by September 1, 2026, with the TCEQ providing assistance and creating a standardized plan template. The bill aims to improve the resilience of small wastewater treatment facilities during natural disasters or prolonged power interruptions by ensuring they can continue operating and treating wastewater. The TCEQ will also consider the potential financial impact on customers and coordinate with the Public Utility Commission of Texas in administering these requirements. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, giving operators and regulatory agencies time to prepare for the new requirements.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3535