The bill would create a criminal penalty for any person who physically delivers regulated substance into an underground storage tank (UST) regulated under Texas Water Code, Chapter 26, which has not been issued a valid, current registration and certificate of compliance. Violation of this proposed criminal sanction would be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. The bill would also provide a defense to prosecution in certain cases, including if the substance was manufactured in strict accordance with state or federal specifications.

The bill would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to adopt rules
regulating the surface facilities associated with new commercial injection wells that propose to accept nonhazardous industrial waste for which a permit has not been issued on or before the effective date of the bill. The rules would apply to every application for a permit for a new well that is filed on or after the effective date.

No significant fiscal impact to the state is expected as a result of the bill's passage.