The House Committee on Natural Resources

85th Legislature

June 5, 2018

10:00 a.m.

Mack Dick Pavilion

Pursuant to a notice posted on May 17, 2018, revised on June 1, 2018, the House Committee on Natural Resources met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Larson, at 10:05 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Larson; Burns; Frank; King, Tracy O.; Lucio III; Price; and Workman.

A quorum was present.

The committee met to hear invited and public testimony on interim charge 3:

“Evaluate the status of groundwater policy in Texas, including the following:

(a) Progress and challenges in encouraging coordination and consistency in aquifer-wide management and permitting practices;

(b) Developments in case law regarding groundwater ownership and regulation;

(c) Potential improvements to the existing groundwater permitting process, including those contemplated in H.B. 31 (85R)

(d) The appropriate consideration of the service area of a water supplier when groundwater resources are allocated based on surface ownership

(e) The designation of brackish groundwater production zones and related research;

(f) Groundwater data and science needs”

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

(Representative Nevárez now present.)

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

At 2:42 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

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Rep. Larson, Chair

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Shannon Houston, Clerk