BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1745

By: Perry

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is authorized to assess groundwater production fees for certain wells that are required to obtain a permit from the district for nonagricultural uses. S.B. 1745 seeks to equalize the rates of production fees charged on certain wells permitted by the district for nonagricultural uses by providing for an increase in the annual groundwater production fee for certain nonagricultural wells located in the shared territory that was added to the district by the legislature in 2015.

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

S.B. 1745 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to specify that the prohibition against the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District charging an annual production fee of more than 17 cents per thousand gallons of water authorized to be produced under an applicable permit from certain wells permitted for nonagricultural use that are located in certain shared territory added to the district by the legislature in 2015 applies before September 1, 2023. The bill authorizes the district to increase such an annual production fee by not more than 10 cents per thousand gallons per year beginning on September 1, 2023, for water permitted for nonagricultural purposes, until the annual production fee is equal to the maximum amount of the greater of 38 cents per thousand gallons or the raw surface water cost of other wholesale suppliers serving customers in the district.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.