Honorable Jim Keffer, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3324 by Larson (relating to the requirements for obtaining an interbasin water transfer permit.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would establish two exemptions to requirements for obtaining an authorization from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to transfer water from one basin to another. One exemption would be for a transfer of water based on a substitution or exchange of an equal or greater quantity of reclaimed or desalinated water that is first made available in the basin of origin, without resulting in a net loss of water supply available for use in the basin of origin. The other exemption would be for a proposed return of reclaimed water or return flow from the discharge basin back to the basin of origin.
The bill is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the TCEQ.
Local Government Impact
Local or government entities who apply for interbasin transfers may benefit from the changes proposed by the bill because in some cases it would offer a simplified transfer than under current law. The resulting savings is not expected to be significant.