Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1780 by Schaefer (Relating to 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 delay the effective date of emergency orders regarding water rights issued by the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and provide the opportunity for a commission hearing on such proposed orders prior to their becoming effective.
The bill would provide that the Executive Director of the TCEQ notify the water right holders who might be affected by an emergency order not later than the 30th day before the proposed order takes effect. The bill would also provide that a person that receives the notice can request a hearing to affirm, modify, or set aside the proposed order not later than the 14th day after receiving notice. Upon the receipt of a request, the bill would require the TCEQ to hold a hearing on the proposed order before the date the proposed order takes effect.
Passage of the bill is not expected to result in significant fiscal implications to the TCEQ.
Local Government Impact
The bill is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on local governments. However, the TCEQ reports that the bill could adversely impact the water supply of those local governments that are holders of senior water rights, as it would increase the time that the TCEQ might take to respond to a call for such rights.