All Roll Calls
Yes: 419 • No: 47
TexasSB 203789th Legislature Regular SessionSenate
Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee.
Sponsored By: Rafael Anchía, Brooks Landgraf, Jared Patterson, Kevin Sparks (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Energy--GeneralEnvironment--GeneralFees & Other Nontax Revenue--StateOil & GasPERMITSADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, STATE OFFICE OFENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Texas sets deadlines for gas-terminal permit responses
The law sets response deadlines for permits to build or modify liquefied natural gas export terminals, including covered renewals. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s executive director must provide each required response within 120 days after public comments close. This is a response deadline, not a deadline for final permit approval. The changes apply to applications filed on or after September 1, 2025; earlier filings remain under prior law.
New deadlines and rules for gas-terminal hearings
New hearing rules cover gas-export terminal construction or modification permits and applicable renewals filed starting September 1, 2025. Anyone requesting a contested-case hearing must state every reason they qualify as an affected person under state law. A judge must hold a preliminary hearing within 60 days after referral to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. At any party’s request, the judge can grant one extension of up to 15 days. Covered air-permit hearing and reconsideration requests follow Water Code procedures, with the stated Health and Safety Code exception preserved. The commission must adopt rules to carry out these changes.
Gas-terminal applicants can pay for faster review
For applications filed starting September 1, 2025, Texas requires rules for optional faster review of gas-export terminal construction or modifications. Applicants choosing faster review pay an extra fee set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to cover review costs. The law sets no dollar amount; the fee is collected, deposited, and used like the application fee. The commission can use overtime, employees, or contract workers for faster reviews without counting them against existing staffing caps. It can provide compensatory time or overtime pay and set overtime pay rates.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Rafael Anchía
House
Brooks Landgraf
House
Jared Patterson
House
Kevin Sparks
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
César Blanco
Democratic • Senate
Tan Parker
Republican • Senate
Royce West
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/26/2025
Record vote
Yes: 29 • No: 2
House vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 109 • No: 29
House vote • 5/20/2025
Record vote
Yes: 142 • No: 0
House vote • 5/20/2025
Record vote
Yes: 124 • No: 16
Senate vote • 4/24/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/24/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Natural Resources
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Environmental Regulation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective on 9/1/25
6/20/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
5/28/2025HouseSigned in the House
5/28/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
5/27/2025SenateSenate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
5/27/2025HouseReported enrolled
5/27/2025SenateRecord vote
5/26/2025SenateSenate concurs in House amendment(s)
5/26/2025SenateRead
5/26/2025SenateHouse amendment(s) laid before the Senate
5/26/2025SenateHouse passage as amended reported
5/21/2025SenateStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/21/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3142)
5/21/2025HousePassed
5/21/2025HouseRead 3rd time
5/21/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/20/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3091)
5/20/2025HousePassed to 3rd reading as amended
5/20/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3090)
5/20/2025HouseAmended (1-Patterson)
5/20/2025HouseLaid out as postponed business
5/20/2025HousePostponed (5/20/25 2:15 PM)
5/20/2025HouseAmendment(s) offered (1-Patterson)
5/20/2025HouseRead 2nd time
5/20/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
Related Bills
SB 785, Relating to the regulation of new HUD-code manufactured housing.
SB 646, Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.
SB 650, Relating to requiring the use of electronically readable information to verify a purchaser's age in the retail sale of alcoholic beverages.
SB 25, Relating to health and nutrition standards to promote healthy living, including requirements for food labeling, primary and secondary education, higher education, and continuing education for certain health care professionals; authorizing a civil penalty.
HB 4325, Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.
HB 4042, Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.