Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB226 by Taylor, Van (relating to the procedure for action on certain applications for an amendment to a water right.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code to exempt certain water rights amendment applications from requirements regarding notice and hearing or technical review by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Under the provisions of the bill, the new exemptions would only apply to applications filed with TCEQ after the effective date of the bill.
TCEQ and the State Office of Administrative Hearings anticipate that any reductions in workload or expenses associated with implementing the provisions of the bill would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
Based on information provided by TCEQ, units of local government can apply for water rights amendment applications and would be subject to the provisions of this bill. Units of local government may have some cost savings due to the reduction of required information for water rights amendment applications.
Source Agencies:
360 State Office of Administrative Hearings, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality