Relating to employment restrictions for former Texas Commission on Environmental Quality employees; providing an administrative penalty.

SB 278 restricts former Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) employees from working in industries regulated by TCEQ for two years after leaving their position. Employers who violate this rule face administrative penalties up to three times the employee's salary for the hired position. The law applies only to TCEQ employees who leave on or after September 1, 2025, when the bill takes effect. This bill creates a two-year cooling-off period to prevent potential conflicts of interest in environmental regulation.