Relating to the adoption by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of salinity requirements for bays and estuaries.

HB 3728 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to establish specific salinity standards for Texas bays and estuaries. It mandates two key mechanisms: (1) numeric salinity gradients where site-specific studies exist, and (2) narrative criteria listing species that depend on estuaries to guide water quality standards. The bill also requires the TCEQ to publish a report by September 2026 analyzing long-term salinity studies (2003-2025) and assessing impacts from wastewater, desalination, and weather changes on estuarine wildlife. This bill directly affects the TCEQ’s regulatory authority and aims to protect coastal ecosystems by tying water quality standards to measurable ecological needs.