The House Committee on Natural Resources

84th Legislature

June 1, 2016

9:00 a.m.

E2.010

Pursuant to a notice posted on May 12, 2016, the House Committee on Natural Resources met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Keffer, at 9:00 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Keffer; Ashby; Burns; Frank; Kacal; Lucio III; Nevárez; and Workman.

A quorum was present.

Representative Burns, chair of the subcommittee on Private Property Right in Water, gave a report to the full committee on the subcommittee’s February 2, 2016 hearing.

Invited Testimony Interim Charge 9(e): Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In conducting this oversight the committee should review the surface water permitting process in Texas, including previous legislative attempts to modify the process, and assess the potential effects of these and other charges.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

(Representative Larson now present.)

Invited Testimony Interim Charge 1: Examine the regional and state water planning processes, with emphasis on the following: (a.) the integration of HB 4 (83R); (b.) the appropriate role of the state in ensuring that the process both supports regional goals and priorities and the water needs of the state as a whole, and how the state might encourage strategies to benefit multiple regions; (c.) the structure and operation of the regional planning groups; (d.) the interaction between the planning process and groundwater management; (e.) whether the "drought of record" remains the appropriate benchmark for planning; and (f.) any impediments to meeting the conservation, agricultural, and rural project goals set by HB 4 (83 R), and possible new approaches to help meet these goals

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

(Representative King, Tracy O. now present.)

Invited Testimony Interim Charge 6: Evaluate the status of legislation to encourage joint groundwater planning, including HB 200 (84R), and monitor ongoing legal developments concerning ownership and access to groundwater and the impact of these developments on property rights and groundwater management.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

At 3:02 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

________________________________________________

Rep. Keffer, Chair

________________________________________________

Buffy Barrett, Clerk