BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3084

By: Larson

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that the Texas Water Development Board should provide for the identification by regional water planning groups of long-range, visionary projects that extend beyond the state's 50-year planning horizon and benefit multiple regions. It has also been suggested that the best approach for encouraging the identification and development of interregional or statewide projects is through a separate planning process that supplements the current regional planning process. C.S.H.B. 3084 seeks to help address this issue by requiring a report that proposes the framework for the addition of a new state-level planning component to the existing regional water planning process that would identify and evaluate multiregional water supply projects.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3084 requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), not later than December 1, 2024, to submit to the legislature a report that does the following:

· proposes the framework for the addition of a new state-level planning component to the existing regional water planning process that would identify and evaluate multiregional water supply projects; and

· contains a general outline for a potential work plan, timeline, and estimated cost for the implementation of that planning component.

The bill defines "multiregional water supply project" as a water supply project that has the potential to serve more than one regional water planning area and do the following:

· create greater yields of water at a lower unit cost due to economies of scale; or

· provide strategic water reserves for the state's long-term water needs.

C.S.H.B. 3084 requires the TWDB to consider the following in developing the framework:

· the currently adopted regional and state water plans;

· potentially available unused or new water sources, including sources related to flooding and seawater;

· information that is readily available regarding potential multiregional water supply projects;

· the potential of multiregional water supply projects to provide water supplies beyond the 50-year state water planning horizon and address droughts worse than the drought of record; and

· other relevant factors as determined by the TWDB.

C.S.H.B. 3084 authorizes the TWDB, in developing the report, to consult with the interregional planning council and contract for research and technical services as needed in developing the proposed framework for the multiregional planning component of the state water plan. The bill's provisions expire January 1, 2025.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3084 establishes provisions requiring a report to the legislature by the TWDB containing a proposal of a process to identify and evaluate multiregional water supply projects and does not include any provisions from the original, which provided for the identification of and funding for interregional water projects by revising provisions relating to the interregional planning council.