LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 22, 2003

TO:	Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1040 by Averitt (Relating to the repeal of the junior priority of a water right authorizing a transfer of water from one river basin in this state to another river basin in this state.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would repeal provisions of the Water Code that addresses interbasin transfers. The subsections currently make out-of-basin water transfers junior in priority to all other basin-of-origin water rights in existence at the time the transfer application is filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Some rulemaking could be required by the TCEQ. Any associated costs are not expected to be significant.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Some local governments could obtain future water supplies at a lower cost as a result of the bill's provisions.

Source Agencies:	580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:	JK, CL, TL