Relating to the review of the duties of a groundwater conservation district by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Contracts

• Legal & Consulting Agreements: If your organization is the petitioner, review engagement letters with outside counsel to account for a potentially longer engagement period (up to 120 additional days).
• Conflict Waivers: If an employee or officer of your company is appointed to a Review Panel, execute specific conflict waivers and separate engagement letters for any outside counsel advising them personally, ensuring your proprietary data remains protected.

Hiring/Training

• Legal Team Training: In-house counsel and compliance officers must update their docketing protocols. The notice window for public meetings/hearings is now 7 days (previously subject to standard Open Meetings Act lead times).
• Panel Service: Staff members appointed to panels must be trained that while they are exempt from Open Meetings Act quorum rules, their communications with the recording secretary are public records.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Expense Verification: Panel members must submit a "verified statement" with physical receipts to the TCEQ Executive Director to receive reimbursement. Standard per diems do not apply; this is a reimbursement-only model.
• Public Information Act (PIA): Treat all submissions to the Review Panel as immediately discoverable. The recording secretary’s records are explicitly subject to Chapter 552 (Public Information Act).

Fees & Costs

• Litigation Budgeting: There are no new filing fees. However, businesses must budget for increased legal fees associated with the 120-day automatic extension if the panel requests technical assistance from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB).