By: Darby (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 4426          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2025;   May 12, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural   Resources; May 22, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 22, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for   commercial surface disposal facilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 91, Natural Resources   Code, is amended by adding Section 91.118 to read as follows:          Sec. 91.118.  TERM AND RENEWAL OF COMMERCIAL SURFACE   DISPOSAL FACILITY PERMIT. (a) In this section, "commercial   surface disposal facility" has the meaning assigned by Section   91.116.          (b)  Unless otherwise provided by law, a permit for a   commercial surface disposal facility:                (1)  is valid for a term of not more than 10 years; and                (2)  carries with it the right to apply for successive   renewal on expiration for areas within the boundaries of the   existing permit.          (c)  In determining the proper term of a new permit for a   commercial surface disposal facility, the commission may consider   the applicant's history of compliance with commission rules and   permits issued by the commission for similar waste management   facilities based on previous inspections, quarterly reports, and   other relevant evidence documented by the commission.          (d)  In determining the proper term of an amended or renewal   permit for a commercial surface disposal facility, the commission   may consider the applicant's history of compliance with commission   rules and permits issued by the commission for the subject facility   or similar waste management facilities based on previous   inspections, quarterly reports, and other relevant evidence   documented by the commission.          (e)  An application for renewal of a permit must be made not   later than the 120th day before the date the existing permit   expires.          SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   the issuance, amendment, or renewal of a permit by the Railroad   Commission of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. The   issuance, amendment, or renewal of a permit by the commission   before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in   effect on the date of issuance, amendment, or renewal, and that law   is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *