SB 1586 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities.

SB 1586 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to deny permits for small wastewater treatment facilities ("package plants" under 500,000 gallons daily) within 1,000 feet of municipal wastewater lines. Applicants must prove they have security/weatherization plans, financial assurance for maintenance, and that nearby facilities denied service requests. The bill also mandates that new permits cannot worsen environmental conditions from combined discharges and requires applicants to have no delinquent fees or unresolved violations in the past decade. This applies only to permit applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action May 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · May 9, 2025

MODERATE

This bill introduces new conditions for issuing permits to package wastewater treatment plants in Texas. The changes add requirements for security and weatherization measures, financial assurance for maintenance, and new eligibility criteria related to nearby wastewater facilities and applicant compliance history. These provisions aim to improve environmental protection and operational reliability of smaller wastewater treatment facilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on package wastewater treatment facilities (pre-manufactured facilities under 500,000 gallons per day capacity), but eligibility requirements for permits have been significantly expanded with new conditions.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that applicants must demonstrate security and weatherization measures for the package plant

Added requirement for financial assurance adequate to cover future maintenance of the package plant

Added requirement that cumulative wastewater discharge will not increase environmental degradation

Reformatted the bill text from a draft version to the official engrossed version with updated layout and spacing

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility condition requiring affirmative denial from nearby wastewater facility operators within three miles

Added applicant compliance requirements including no delinquent fees, no unresolved administrative orders, and no repeated violations in the past 10 years

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Environmental Regulation

lower

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 9, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors