Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2113 by Price (Relating to the creation of a groundwater conservation district in a priority groundwater management area.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code relating to the composition of groundwater conservation districts and priority groundwater management areas. A portion of area without a groundwater conservation district may be added to an existing groundwater conservation district. For areas without a groundwater conservation district in a designated priority groundwater management area, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would be required to create one or more new groundwater conservation districts.
The bill would require TCEQ to create a groundwater conservation district composed of territory within two or more contiguous or non-contiguous counties. TCEQ may create a single county groundwater conservation district in a priority groundwater management area only if: a single county in the priority groundwater management area remains without a groundwater conservation district, or the other areas are not contiguous and TCEQ determines that creating a single groundwater conservation district composed of the noncontiguous areas would be less effective or efficient for management of the groundwater resources than creating a groundwater conservation district composed of the single county.
Local Government Impact
According to the Live Oak Underwater Conservation District, Bee Groundwater Conservation District, and the McMullen Groundwater Conservation District there would be no fiscal impact associated with implementing the provisions of the bill.
Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality