Relating to eligibility for a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in this state.

HB 4485 modifies Texas' Water Code to require that dischargers (like industrial facilities or wastewater treatment plants) whose general permits to discharge waste into state waters are denied or suspended must wait at least five years before reapplying for a new permit. The bill adds a new provision stating that after such a denial or suspension, the commission cannot authorize discharge under a general permit until the fifth anniversary of the denial date. This rule applies only to denials or suspensions ordered on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025; existing cases follow prior rules. The law does not change current permit requirements but adds a mandatory waiting period for future violations.