Honorable Lyle Larson, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2948 by Larson (Relating to the state and regional water planning process.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code to require the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to appoint a planning council consisting of one member from each regional water planning group during each five-year planning cycle prior to the adoption of a new state water plan. The bill would also add several new requirements to the development of regional water plans, including identification of unnecessary or counterproductive variations in drought response strategies, assessment of the potential for aquifer storage and recovery projects to meet significant water needs identified in a planning area, and providing specific goals of per capita water use for municipal water groups.
Based on the analysis of TWDB, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.