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House Bill 2378 |
House Author: Larson |
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Effective: Vetoed |
Senate Sponsor: Perry |
House Bill 2378 amends the Water Code to provide for the automatic extension of the term of a permit for the transfer of groundwater from a groundwater conservation district with respect to the associated operating permit for the production of the groundwater.
Governor's Reason for Veto: "House Bill 2378 would have essentially mandated that export permits issued by groundwater conservation districts be extended indefinitely. An indefinite permit hinders the public from participating in the decision-making of the groundwater conservation district. It does not, however, prevent the groundwater conservation district from changing the terms of the permit unilaterally, a power House Bill 2378 continues to allow these districts to exercise. Excluding the public, potentially in perpetuity, from the decisions of a groundwater conservation district will reduce transparency and inhibit the district's ability to respond to changed circumstances over time. The next Legislature should consider legislation that accomplishes the goals of House Bill 2378 without its defects."