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SB766

Regular Session

Relating to the correction of references to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
SB766
Low
Relating to the correction of references to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
TCEQ
Primary Author: Sen. Judith Zaffirini
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (for internal document precision)
  • Agency Rulemaking: None. The agency has operated as the TCEQ for two decades; this bill aligns the statute with existing practice.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Templates: Instruct legal support staff to run a "Find and Replace" (TNRCC -> TCEQ) on your firm’s entire forms bank before Q3 2025.
  • Review Insurance: Verify that Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) policies define "Regulatory Agency" to include "statutory predecessors" to prevent carriers from denying claims based on outdated agency references.
  • Ignore Vendor Upsells: Reject any proposals from consultants offering "SB 766 Compliance Packages." This is an administrative update only.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Update all future Master Service Agreements (MSAs), environmental indemnities, and consulting contract templates to cite the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. You do not need to amend existing executed contracts; the bill includes a savings clause validating references to the TNRCC in older agreements.

Hiring/Training

Review employee training modules to ensure they reference the correct agency name. This prevents confusion for younger staff who may not recognize the legacy "TNRCC" acronym found in older facility documents.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

No new forms or filings are required. However, you must update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and internal compliance manuals. Referring to "TNRCC standards" in 2025 documents signals a lack of diligence to auditors and opposing counsel.

Fees & Costs

There are no fiscal impacts, fee changes, or new penalties associated with this legislation.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

There are no strategic ambiguities in this text. It is a rigid codification of a name change. The legislation explicitly states that effective January 1, 2004, a reference in law to the TNRCC is a reference to the TCEQ, retroactively curing any legal gaps.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Jan 13, 2025
Passed Senate
Mar 13, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsEnvironmentEnvironment--generalState Agencies, Boards & CommissionsTexas A&m Agrilife Extension ServiceAgriculture, Department ofEnvironmental Quality, Texas Commission OnPublic Safety, Department of
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Brooks LandgrafRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

Showing first 50k characters.

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB766

Q

What does Texas SB766 do?

SB 766 is a statutory "clean-up" measure that updates 107 sections of the Texas Codes to formally replace obsolete references to the "Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission" (TNRCC) with the "Texas Commission on Environmental Quality" (TCEQ). This legislation affects all entities holding environmental permits but imposes no new operational regulations, fees, or penalties; it strictly harmonizes written law with current agency identity. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (for internal document precision) Agency Rulemaking: None.

Q

Who authored SB766?

SB766 was authored by Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB766 signed into law?

SB766 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB766?

SB766 is enforced by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB766?

The compliance urgency for SB766 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB766?

The cost impact of SB766 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB766 address?

SB766 addresses topics including environment, environment--general, state agencies, boards & commissions, texas a&m agrilife extension service and agriculture, department of.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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