SB 165
Hagenbuch Bill Lets Lawmakers Write To TCEQ On Pending Permits
Filed
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
Caption
relating to communications between the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Officials can weigh in on open permit cases. Letters go in the record, and every party can answer.
This bill lets the governor, the lieutenant governor, and state lawmakers send written messages to the Texas environmental agency about permit applications it is still deciding, even if another law would block that contact. Lawmakers may write only about facilities in their own districts, and no official may write about a business in which they or a close relative have a substantial interest. The agency must take these messages, put them in the official case record, and give every party a chance to answer them, and the staff who receive them do not have to step aside from the case.
Receipt
The receipt
90R-SB165 · 2026-11-09
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to communications between the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature.
WHAT IT DOES
Officials can weigh in on open permit cases. Letters go in the record, and every party can answer.
This bill lets the governor, the lieutenant governor, and state lawmakers send written messages to the Texas environmental agency about permit applications it is still deciding, even if another law would block that contact. Lawmakers may write only about facilities in their own districts, and no official may write about a business in which they or a close relative have a substantial interest. The agency must take these messages, put them in the official case record, and give every party a chance to answer them, and the staff who receive them do not have to step aside from the case.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
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 Jun 15, 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$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 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 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: 101058859.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 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 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: 101058859.
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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 S Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Subjects
Environment--General
Governor
Legislature
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Text
The text as introduced · 332 words
By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 165 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to communications between the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 5, Water Code, is amended by adding Section 5.180 to read as follows: Sec. 5.180. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature may communicate in writing, including electronically, with a commission official or employee about an application for the issuance, amendment, modification, or renewal of a permit, or for an authorization to use a permit, that is pending before the commission. A member of the legislature may communicate under this section with the commission only about an application for a facility or proposed facility that is located in the member's district. (b) A commission official or employee shall receive a communication described by Subsection (a). The official or employee is not required to be recused from the proceedings related to the application discussed in the communication. (c) The commission shall: (1) include in the record of proceedings related to an application a record of each communication received under this section about the application; and (2) provide for any party to the proceedings related to an application about which the commission receives a communication under this section an opportunity to respond to the communication. (d) The governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature may not communicate with a commission official or employee under this section about an application that affects a business entity in which the governor, lieutenant governor, or member has a substantial interest or in which a person related to the governor, lieutenant governor, or member within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity has a substantial interest, as described by Section 572.005, Government Code. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.