HB 3997 establishes an expedited permit application review process for projects involving the construction or modification of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals. The bill mandates that applicants opting for expedited review must pay an additional fee determined by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to cover the costs of the review. It requires the commission to issue written responses to public comments within 120 days of the public comment period closing. If a contested case hearing is requested, the case must be referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, and the administrative law judge must hold a preliminary hearing within 30 days of the referral. The bill ensures that an administrative law judge determining whether a party has standing in a contested case can only consider the specific reasons stated in the request for the hearing.