leg+water: February 2021

Every month during the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Dr. Robert Mace and Dr. Todd Votteler provide an update on water-related legislation. The key water committees are Water and Rural Affairs in the Senate and Natural Resources in the House of Representatives.

First, who is in charge?

Senator Charles Perry (R) of Lubbock has been reappointed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs, while Representative Tracy King (D) of Uvalde has been appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Neither committee has held a hearing thus far.

Below is a list of some of the water-related bills that have been filed to date. In March, we will update you on the progress (if any) regarding key water-related bills. A few bills to watch straight out of the chute include:

HB 966 (Burns), Relating to the award of attorney’s fees and other costs in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.

HB 1044 (Anchia), Relating to establishing the Texas Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study and address the impacts of climate change in this state

SB 152 (Perry), Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts.

SB 306 (Eckhardt), Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.

SB 601 (Perry), Relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium.

Note: There is no guarantee of accuracy on this sheet. Confirm status of any bill of interest at Texas Legislature Online

Bill	Author(s)	Companion	Bill Description
HB 152	Buckley		Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of groundwater conditions in certain counties. [for the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers north of the Colorado River in Bell, Burnet, Milam, Travis, and Williamson Counties]
HB 242	Zweiner		Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to require water pollution abatement plans from certain facilities regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
HB 271	Murr		Relating to the procedure by which a state agency may issue an opinion that a watercourse is navigable.
HB 291	Murr		Relating to the regulation of certain aggregate production operations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; authorizing an increase in the amount of a fee.
HB 303	Collier		Relating to testing for lead contamination in public school drinking water.
HB 348	Zweiner		Relating to a requirement to make certain environmental and water use permit applications available online.
HB 605	Gervin-Hawkins		Relating to the adoption of a healthy and safe school water plan by public schools.
HB 666	Harris	SB 152	Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts.
HB 668	Harris	SB 152	Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts.
HB 767	Huberty		Relating to best management practices for aggregate production operations.
HB 806	Gates		Relating to nonsubmetered billing for water or wastewater service.
HB 966	Burns		Relating to the award of attorney’s fees and other costs in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.
HB 1044	Anchia		Relating to establishing the Texas Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study and address the impacts of climate change in this state.
SB 152	Perry	HB 666	Relating to the regulation of groundwater conservation districts [legal fees, petitioning for rule-making, etc].
SB 306	Eckhardt		Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.
SB 307	Eckhardt		Relating to the transmission of water across two or more county lines for the purpose of providing wholesale water service.
SB 531	Kolkorst	HB 1904	Relating to the use of the water infrastructure fund.
SB 600	Perry		Relating to an inventory of dams controlled by river authorities.
SB 601	Perry		Relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium.
SB 656	Gutierrez		Relating to the creation of the Val Verde County Groundwater Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose fees, surcharges, and taxes.
SB 668	Mendez		Relating to the confidentiality of certain government operated utility customer information.
SB 669	Springer		Relating to certain reports created by the Texas Water Development Board.
SB 699	Hughes	HB 2019	Relating to a study of the conversion of surface mine pits and quarries to water storage reservoirs in order to enhance this state’s available water supply.
SB 673	Buckingham	HB 1874	Relating to the provision of technical assistance by the Texas Water Development Board to an interregional planning council.
SB 700	Buckingham | et al.	HB 1615	Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
SB 739	Birdwell		Relating to the presiding officers of the boards of directors of river authorities.