The bill sets new rules for when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality can approve a permit for a small prefabricated wastewater plant, called a package plant, that treats less than 500,000 gallons a day. It touches developers and property owners who want their own small sewage plant, mostly for neighborhoods outside city service, along with nearby utilities. The commission cannot approve a plant within 1,000 feet of a city sewer line, and any other plant needs proof of security and weather protection, money for future upkeep, a refusal of service from utilities within three miles, no added harm from combined discharges, and a clean compliance record, starting with applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on May 9, 2025. Died in the House: never got out of the Environmental Regulation committee.
relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities.
WHAT IT DOES
Plants treating less than 500,000 gallons a day.
The bill sets new rules for when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality can approve a permit for a small prefabricated wastewater plant, called a package plant, that treats less than 500,000 gallons a day. It touches developers and property owners who want their own small sewage plant, mostly for neighborhoods outside city service, along with nearby utilities. The commission cannot approve a plant within 1,000 feet of a city sewer line, and any other plant needs proof of security and weather protection, money for future upkeep, a refusal of service from utilities within three miles, no added harm from combined discharges, and a clean compliance record, starting with applications filed on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
CSSB 1586 (Schwertner) Relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Creighton, Hughes (29-2) "Nays" Creighton, Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 2 (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 for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, 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
CSSB 1586 (Schwertner) Relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Creighton, Hughes (29-2) "Nays" Creighton, Hughes
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 29 (published)
Nay: 2 (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 engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
CSSB 1586 (Schwertner) Relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Creighton, Hughes (29-2) "Nays" Creighton, Hughes
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.
Witnesses14
For
11
Against
2
On
1
Names
For
Brazos River Authority1 registration
City of Georgetown1 registration
City of San Marcos, Texas1 registration
City of Sugar Land1 registration
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; San Marcos TX Utilities1 registration
Self; Texas chapter US Green Building Council1 registration
Texas Municipal League1 registration
Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT)1 registration
Against
Allen Boone Humphries Robinson1 registration
Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P.1 registration
On
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality1 registration
Sources
14 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
89R14099 DRS-D
By: Schwertner
S.B. No. 1586
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 26.054 to read as follows:
Sec. 26.054. CONDITIONS OF PERMIT FOR PACKAGE PLANT. (a)
In this section, "package plant" means a pre-manufactured
wastewater treatment facility with a capacity of less than 500,000
gallons per day. The term includes an extended aeration plant,
sequencing batch reactor, or oxidation ditch.
(b) The commission may not issue a permit for a proposed
package plant that is located within 1,000 feet of a municipal
wastewater line.
(c) The commission may issue a permit for a proposed package
plant only if the applicant demonstrates to the commission that the
applicant:
(1) will implement measures to ensure the security and
weatherization of the package plant; and
(2) has financial assurance adequate to provide for
future maintenance of the package plant.
SECTION 2. Section 26.054, Water Code, as added by this Act,
applies only to an application for the issuance of a permit that is
filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring