On Wednesday, an important coastal bill got its moment at the Texas Capitol. The House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism heard testimony on HB 3728 that would direct the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to release the salinity studies that it has been collecting for over two decades and establish stronger standards for salinity to protect our coastal ecosystems.
The problem is that the current salinity standards as specified in the Texas Administrative Code §307.4(g)(3) are far from sufficient to ensure that our bays and estuaries can continue to thrive, especially as the seawater desalination industry expands along the Texas coast. The main goal of HB 3728 is to address this issue by requiring TCEQ to set more protective numeric and narrative standards for salinity.
Numeric standards are just what they sound like: they would provide measurable thresholds, thus creating clear targets for salinity levels. Whereas narrative standards are based on the salinity tolerances of species that live in bays and estuaries. In other words, if oysters, fish, or other organisms that rely on certain salinity levels are struggling, it’s a signal that conditions have gone off course.
While we know that the development of salinity standards is on the TCEQ’s radar, the agency made it clear at the public meeting of their Water Quality Advisory Work Group last month that no updates to salinity criteria were going to be incorporated in the 2026 surface water quality standards. This means that we won’t see any changes until at least the end of the following revision cycle in 2030. By then, the damage from seawater desalination plants could already become irreversible. 2030 is five years too late!
Representative Penny Morales Shaw, who authored HB 3728, delivered a powerful introduction of this bill, highlighting the urgency of this moment. She was backed by compelling testimony from dedicated community members, scientists, and environmental advocates who waited for almost 11 hours for a chance to speak. Sierra Club, Chispa-TX, Coastal Watch Association, and others stayed the course to deliver their testimony in strong support of HB 3728, while dozens of other environmental groups and concerned citizens submitted their formal support without testifying in person. You can read the Sierra Club’s comments here.
While no opposition spoke at the hearing, we know that they tend to view this bill as a barrier to expanding seawater desalination in Texas. But here’s the truth: responsible regulation is never a barrier! If desalination is going to be part of Texas' water future, it must be done sustainably, with necessary environmental protections in place.
So what’s next? HB 3728 was left pending in the committee, meaning no vote has happened yet. If the committee moves it forward, this bill will head to the House floor. There’s still plenty of work for us to do to help this important bill progress through the legislative process. Here’s what you can do:
- Take action to show your support and share this action alert with others.
- Help us raise awareness by spreading the word about the critical importance and urgency of HB 3728. This one-pager provides a solid overview of the bill - please share it widely!
- Contact the House Committee on Culture Recreation and Tourism by writing them a letter or giving them a call. Please find the contact information along with a simple letter script below.
Contact Information for the House Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism
Rep. Will Metcalf (Chair)
will.metcalf@house.texas.gov
512-463-0726
Rep. Lulu Flores (Vice Chair)
district51.flores@house.texas.gov
512-463-0674
Rep. Sheryl Cole
sheryl.cole@house.texas.gov
512-463-0506
Rep. Mano DeAyala
mano.deayala@house.texas.gov
512-463-0514
Rep. Helen Kerwin
helen.kerwin@house.texas.gov
512-463-0538
Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer
trey.martinezfischer@house.texas.gov
512-463-0616
Rep. Angelia Orr
angelia.orr@house.texas.gov
512-463-0600
Rep. Cody Vasut
cody.vasut@house.texas.gov
512-463-0564
Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson
charlene.wardjohnson@house.texas.gov
512-463-0554
Sample email / call script:
Dear Representative [Committee Member’s Name],
Please support HB 3728, which would require TCEQ to establish salinity standards to protect Texas bays and estuaries. With seawater desalination expanding quickly, we can’t afford to wait any longer without clear and enforceable salinity standards. This bill is a common-sense step to protect not just the environment, but jobs, seafood, recreation, and a way of life that makes Texas’ coast so unique.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City & Zip]