| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Neutral |
Relating to the adoption by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a permit by rule for the beneficial reuse of domestic wastewater and mobile drinking water treatment system wastewater produced at certain oil and gas drilling sites.
Estimated Two year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 4066, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($3,067,750) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
HB 4066 would require the Railroad Commission of Texas to create a permit for the beneficial recycling of treated domestic wastewater generated at oil and gas drill sites and mobile drinking water treatment system wastewater. The commission must require that discharges of treated wastewater meet the state’s applicable water quality standards and that permits have certain notification and report requirements. The bill would also require financial security assurances of no greater than $200,000 for each permit.
Texas Action opposes HB 4066 due to the significant cost to switch over to the new permitting regime proposed by this legislation. If it will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and increase the size of government simply to modify the permitting regime and separate it out from operating "under the permit umbrella of an oil and gas operator" it would be preferable to maintain the status quo.