BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2133

By: Larson

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas is currently in one of the greatest and most oppressive droughts on record, to the extent that, during the worst part of the drought, nearly all of the state was classified as under extreme or exceptional drought. Many Texans believe that desalination, the process by which the majority of salt and other minerals is removed from salt water, is a viable, solution to addressing Texas' water needs. Desalination has a proven history in Texas and several desalination facilities across Texas are producing millions of gallons of water per day. Water reuse also has become a viable option for water production throughout the nation, and the 2012 State Water Plan, adopted by the Texas Water Development Board recommends obtaining new water supplies through the water reuse strategy.

C.S.H.B. 2133 seeks to raise the profile of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies, particularly desalination and reuse, and to expand the limited view of water resources into larger interests that will fulfill the water needs of Texas.

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

C.S.H.B. 2133 amends the Water Code to include in the state's public policy regarding the conservation and development of the state's natural resources the facilitation of the efficient and effective use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies whenever possible to meet the natural resource needs of Texas and the promotion of direct reuse of reclaimed water for nonpotable purposes whenever possible to enhance and preserve the state's freshwater supply.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2133 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1. Section 1.003, Water Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1.003. PUBLIC POLICY. It is the public policy of the state to provide for the conservation and development of the state's natural resources, including:

(1) the control, storage, preservation, and distribution of the state's storm and floodwaters and the waters of its rivers and streams for irrigation, power, and other useful purposes;

(2) the reclamation and irrigation of the state's arid, semiarid, and other land needing irrigation;

(3) the reclamation and drainage of the state's overflowed land and other land needing drainage;

(4) the conservation and development of its forest, water, and hydroelectric power;

(5) the navigation of the state's inland and coastal waters;

(6) the maintenance of a proper ecological environment of the bays and estuaries of Texas and the health of related living marine resources;

(7) the voluntary stewardship of public and private lands to benefit waters of the state; [~~and~~]

(8) the promotion of rainwater harvesting for potable and nonpotable purposes at public and private facilities in this state, including residential, commercial, and industrial buildings; and

(9) the facilitation of the efficient and effective use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies whenever possible to meet the natural resource needs of this state.