The House Committee on Natural Resources

85th Legislature

September 27, 2018

10:00 a.m.

Brownsville, TX

Pursuant to a notice posted on September 6, 2018, revised on September 24, 2018, the House Committee on Natural Resources met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Larson, at 10:07 a.m.

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

A quorum was present.

The committee met to hear invited and public testimony on interim charge #9, interim charge #6, and specific issues related to interim charge #3:

Interim Charge 9: “Examine opportunities to enhance water development opportunities involving neighboring states and Mexico. Evaluate lessons from previous attempts to import new water supplies, as well as the impacts of noncompliance with the 1944 treaty with Mexico on the Rio Grande Valley Region.”

Interim Charge 6: “Evaluate the results of the expedited decertification process created under S.B. 573 (82R). Include an evaluation of the process for resolving disputes around this process and assessing compensation for utilities whose service areas are decertified.”

Specific issues related to Interim Charge 3: “Evaluate the status of groundwater policy in Texas, including the following:

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

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

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

At 3:26 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