BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1866

By: Lucio III

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been suggested that replacing a biennial Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) reporting requirement regarding water use data with a requirement that the TWDB make the data publicly available would conserve TWDB resources while making the data more accessible. Like other state agency reports, considerable staff time is required to draft, review, edit, publish, and deliver a formal report, and it is believed that the data can still be shared while expending fewer TWDB resources to do so. H.B. 1866 makes this change and also repeals a reporting requirement regarding dam repair and maintenance needs which has already been completed. 

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 1866 amends the Water Code to replace the requirement that the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) submit to the legislature a biennial report that includes the most recent data relating to the following with a requirement that the TWDB make the data publicly available:

·         statewide water usage in the residential, industrial, agricultural, commercial, and institutional sectors; and

·         the data collection and reporting program for municipalities and water utilities with more than 3,300 connections.

 

H.B. 1866 repeals Section 201.0227(d-1), Agriculture Code, which requires the TWDB, in coordination with the State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, to prepare a report of the repair and maintenance needs of certain dams.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2021.