LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 24, 2005

TO:	Honorable Robert Puente, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3209 by Gallego (Relating to the rights of landowners and their lessees and assigns in groundwater.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would authorize each owner of land above a particular aquifer to withdraw an equal amount of water per acre of land owned above that aquifer. The landowner would also be authorized to exceed that amount if no other owner of land above the same aquifer would be deprived of the amount to which they are entitled as a result of an excess withdrawal. A groundwater conservation district's rules must comply with the proposed authorization.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, DLBa