Relating to the issuance of air quality permits for certain facilities located in a nonattainment area.

SB 429 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to analyze alternatives before issuing air quality permits for major new facilities or major modifications in areas designated as "nonattainment" under federal Clean Air Act rules. The bill mandates the TCEQ to evaluate whether proposed facilities' benefits outweigh environmental and social costs by considering different locations, sizes, production processes, and pollution controls. This applies only to permit applications pending on or after September 1, 2025, for facilities classified as "major stationary sources" under federal definitions. The law directly affects developers seeking new permits in nonattainment areas and the TCEQ's review process for those applications.