Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1776 by Schaefer (Relating to the definition of "drought" for the purposes of emergency orders concerning water rights issued by the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the definition of "drought" for the purposes of emergency orders for water rights issued by the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). For purposes of Water Code, Section 11.053, the bill would define "drought" as "exceptional" or "D4" by the National Drought Mitigation Center, in accordance with the center's Drought Severity Classification scheme.
Passage of the bill is not expected to have a significant impact on the TCEQ.
Local Government Impact
The bill could affect the amount of water available to local governments during times of low streamflows. However, passage of the bill is not expected to have a direct fiscal impact on local governments.