HB 4485
bill barring kicked-off dischargers from general permits for five years
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 eligibility for a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in this state.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Lose general permit authority, wait five years to come back.
The bill bars the state environmental commission from letting a discharger back under a general wastewater discharge permit for five years after the commission denies or suspends that discharger's general permit authority. It touches facilities that discharge waste into or near Texas waters under general permits and have been kicked off them. On the ground, a denied or suspended discharger must wait five years or seek some other kind of authorization, and the rule covers only denials or suspensions ordered on or after September 1, 2025.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4485 · 2025-03-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to eligibility for a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in this state.
WHAT IT DOES
Lose general permit authority, wait five years to come back.
The bill bars the state environmental commission from letting a discharger back under a general wastewater discharge permit for five years after the commission denies or suspends that discharger's general permit authority. It touches facilities that discharge waste into or near Texas waters under general permits and have been kicked off them. On the ground, a denied or suspended discharger must wait five years or seek some other kind of authorization, and the rule covers only denials or suspensions ordered on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Natural Resources
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 · Aug 30, 2024 to Apr 2, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$303,416.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$303,416.00
- Cash
- $77,500.00
- Paid by others
- $225,916.00
- Total
- $303,416.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 14, 2024 to Mar 3, 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: 101012348, 101016762, 101032999, 101036177, 101041213, 101061435.
DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN$84,000.00
DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN
$84,000.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $9,000.00
- Total
- $84,000.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 101032999, 101036177, 101041213.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC$83,505.68
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$83,505.68
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $83,505.68
- Total
- $83,505.68
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Mar 3, 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: 101041213, 101061435.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$303,416.00
- Cash
- $77,500.00
- Paid by others
- $225,916.00
- Total
- $303,416.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 14, 2024 to Mar 3, 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: 101012348, 101016762, 101032999, 101036177, 101041213, 101061435.
DUSTIN BURROWS CAMPAIGN
$84,000.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $9,000.00
- Total
- $84,000.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 101032999, 101036177, 101041213.
Texas Conservative Majority PAC
$83,505.68
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $83,505.68
- Total
- $83,505.68
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Mar 3, 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: 101041213, 101061435.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 12, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
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 · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 1302 by Kolkhorst (identical)
Subjects
Environment--Water
PERMITS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Text
The text as introduced · 180 words
89R10160 KRM-D By: Bell of Montgomery H.B. No. 4485 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to eligibility for a general permit to discharge waste into or adjacent to waters in this state. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 26.040, Water Code, is amended by adding Subsection (h-1) to read as follows: (h-1) After the commission denies or suspends a discharger's authority to discharge under a general permit under Subsection (h), the commission may not authorize the discharger to discharge under a general permit before the fifth anniversary of the date of the denial or suspension. SECTION 2. Section 26.040(h-1), Water Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a denial or suspension ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. A denial or suspension ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the denial or suspension is ordered, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.