The bill requires the state environmental agency's general aquaculture permit to let licensed oyster farmers wash their oyster-growing structures and let that wash water flow back into state waters. The cleaning must happen at the farm site, using only water from that site, with no soap, chemicals or similar additives, and the farmer must follow the agency's other permit conditions. Oyster farmers get a clear legal path to clean their gear on site, and the agency must consult the Parks and Wildlife Department when it sets those conditions.
Labels
Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3604 (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for
cultivated oyster mariculture.
WHAT IT DOES
On-site water only. No soap, no chemicals.
The bill requires the state environmental agency's general aquaculture permit to let licensed oyster farmers wash their oyster-growing structures and let that wash water flow back into state waters. The cleaning must happen at the farm site, using only water from that site, with no soap, chemicals or similar additives, and the farmer must follow the agency's other permit conditions. Oyster farmers get a clear legal path to clean their gear on site, and the agency must consult the Parks and Wildlife Department when it sets those conditions.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
HB 609 (Creighton) Relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
HB 609 (Creighton) Relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
HB 609 (Creighton) Relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 552): 125 Yeas, 6 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 126 (published)
Nay: 5 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
Excused: 7 (derived from named list)
House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Witnesses18
For
15
Against
0
On
3
Names
For
Coastal Conservation Association1 registration
Gulf Trust1 registration
Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration
Nueces County1 registration
Self5 registrations
Self; Copano Oyster Company2 registrations
Self; Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society1 registration
Self; Texas Foundation for Conservation1 registration
House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee
Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee
Subjects
Environment--Water
Parks & Wildlife--General
AQUACULTURE
MARICULTURE
OYSTERS
PERMITS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Text
The text as introduced · 233 words
89R3462 MP-D
By: Vasut
H.B. No. 609
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for
cultivated oyster mariculture.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 26.0406 to read as follows:
Sec. 26.0406. GENERAL PERMITS FOR AQUACULTURE; EXEMPTION
FOR CLEANING STRUCTURES USED FOR GROWING OYSTERS. (a) A general
permit for aquaculture issued by the commission must allow the
holder of a cultivated oyster mariculture permit under Chapter 75,
Parks and Wildlife Code, to discharge into waters of this state
waste related to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters
for cultivated oyster mariculture in accordance with Subsection
(b).
(b) A cultivated oyster mariculture permit holder cleaning
a structure as described by Subsection (a):
(1) may clean the structure only:
(A) at the location where the permit holder is
authorized to operate; and
(B) with water from that location;
(2) may not alter the water in any way before using the
water for cleaning, including by adding a soap, chemical, or
similar substance; and
(3) must comply with all other permit conditions
established by the commission.
(c) In establishing a permit condition described by
Subsection (b)(3), the commission shall consult with the Parks and
Wildlife Department.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
