BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2142

By: Frullo

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Water conservation is critical to the future of Texas, with current projections indicating that approximately 25 percent of new supplies of water in the next 50 years will be from water conservation strategies. The Water Conservation Advisory Council was created to advise the legislature on matters of water conservation and is required to report on the progress of water conservation strategies in the state, but is not currently required to provide the legislature with specific conservation recommendations. H.B. 2142 intends to provide more specific water conservation and management recommendations to the legislature by requiring the council to provide such recommendations in the council's biennial report.

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

H.B. 2142 amends the Water Code to require the Water Conservation Advisory Council's biennial report on progress made in water conservation in Texas to include specific statutory, budgetary, and policy recommendations to improve water conservation and management.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.