HB 3728
bill orders salinity rules for bays and estuaries
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the adoption by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of salinity requirements for bays and estuaries.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Number-based ranges where studies exist, plus the species the water should support.
The bill requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to add salinity rules for bays and estuaries to the state's water quality standards. These rules must include number-based salinity ranges where site studies exist, and written criteria naming the species the water should support. The commission must make the change the next time it revises those rules, and must post a report by September 1, 2026, on how wastewater, desalination, and rainfall changes affect bay salinity and wildlife.
Labels
Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism committee on Apr 23, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3728 · 2025-03-04
SOLD BY
+ 4 coauthors
ITEM
relating to the adoption by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of salinity requirements for bays and estuaries.
WHAT IT DOES
Number-based ranges where studies exist, plus the species the water should support.
The bill requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to add salinity rules for bays and estuaries to the state's water quality standards. These rules must include number-based salinity ranges where site studies exist, and written criteria naming the species the water should support. The commission must make the change the next time it revises those rules, and must post a report by September 1, 2026, on how wastewater, desalination, and rainfall changes affect bay salinity and wildlife.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 22, 2025
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3728, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. However there is an estimated net two year impact of ($400,000) to the General Revenue-Dedicated Water Resource Management Account No. 153 (Account No. 153). The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
First year · FY 2026 · $0
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 17, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$21,500.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$21,500.00
- Cash
- $21,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $21,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Aug 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100984943, 101006793, 101044547, 101054176, 101068938.
House Democratic Caucus$7,000.00
House Democratic Caucus
$7,000.00
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Apr 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101054176.
Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$6,254.03
Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee
$6,254.03
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $6,254.03
- Total
- $6,254.03
Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100984943, 101068938.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$21,500.00
- Cash
- $21,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $21,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 2024 to Aug 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100984943, 101006793, 101044547, 101054176, 101068938.
House Democratic Caucus
$7,000.00
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Apr 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101054176.
Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee
$6,254.03
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $6,254.03
- Total
- $6,254.03
Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100984943, 101068938.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 22, 2025
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3728, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. However there is an estimated net two year impact of ($400,000) to the General Revenue-Dedicated Water Resource Management Account No. 153 (Account No. 153). The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
First year · FY 2026 · $0
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 4, 2025
04/23/2025 H Left pending in committee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Coastal Affairs & Beaches
Environment--Water
DESALINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Text
The text as introduced · 255 words
89R13394 KRM-D By: Morales Shaw H.B. No. 3728 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the adoption by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of salinity requirements for bays and estuaries. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended by adding Section 26.0231 to read as follows: Sec. 26.0231. SALINITY OF BAYS AND ESTUARIES. The commission shall incorporate in standards set under Section 26.023: (1) numeric salinity gradients for bays and estuaries where site-specific salinity studies exist; and (2) narrative salinity criteria for bays and estuaries listing specific species within bays and estuaries to support attainable estuarine dependent aquatic life. SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall ensure that water quality standards set by the commission under Section 26.023, Water Code, comply with Section 26.0231, Water Code, as added by this Act, in the first revision of the commission's relevant rules that occurs after the effective date of this Act. (b) Not later than September 1, 2026, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall publish on its Internet website a report on the results of long-term studies conducted between 2003 and 2025 by the commission and other state agencies of estuarine salinity gradients. The report must assess, based on available information from stakeholders and the studies, the effects of additional wastewater loading, desalination, and changes in hydrological conditions and rainfall on estuarine salinity gradients and estuarine dependent wildlife. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.