H.B. No. 3059
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the export fee charged for the transfer of groundwater
  from a groundwater conservation district.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 36.122, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (e) and (p) and adding Subsections (e-1),
  (e-2), and (e-3) to read as follows:
         (e)  Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), the [The]
  district may impose an export fee or surcharge using one of the
  following methods:
               (1)  a fee negotiated between the district and the
  exporter;
               (2)  for a tax-based district, a rate not to exceed 20
  cents [the equivalent of the district's tax rate per hundred
  dollars of valuation] for each thousand gallons of water exported
  from the district [or 2.5 cents per thousand gallons of water, if
  the district assesses a tax rate of less than 2.5 cents per hundred
  dollars of valuation]; or
               (3)  for a fee-based district, a rate not to exceed the
  greater of 20 cents for each thousand gallons or a 50 percent
  surcharge, in addition to the district's production fee, for water
  exported from the district.
         (e-1)  Effective January 1, 2024, the maximum allowable rate
  a district may impose for an export fee or surcharge under
  Subsection (e)(2) or (e)(3) increases by three percent each
  calendar year.
         (e-2)  A district governed by a special law in regard to an
  export fee or surcharge on water exported from the district may
  charge an export fee or surcharge in accordance with that special
  law or in accordance with Subsections (e) and (e-1).
         (e-3)  An export fee or surcharge imposed under Subsection
  (e) or an increase in an imposed export fee or surcharge is not
  valid unless it is approved by the board after a public hearing.
         (p)  Subsections [Subsection] (e), (e-1), and (e-2) do
  [does] not apply to a district that is collecting an export fee or
  surcharge on March 1, 2001.
         SECTION 2.  Section 36.207, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 36.207.  USE OF FEES.  (a)  A district may use funds
  obtained from administrative, production, or export fees collected
  under a special law governing the district or this chapter for any
  purpose consistent with the district's approved management plan,
  including, without limitation, making grants, loans, or
  contractual payments to achieve, facilitate, or expedite
  reductions in groundwater pumping or the development or
  distribution of alternative water supplies or to maintain the
  operability of wells significantly affected by groundwater
  development to allow for the highest practicable level of
  groundwater production while achieving the desired future
  conditions established under Section 36.108.
         (b)  A district may use funds obtained from the amount that
  an export fee is increased under Section 36.122(e-1) on or after
  January 1, 2024, only for costs related to assessing and addressing
  impacts associated with groundwater development, including:
               (1)  maintaining operability of wells significantly
  affected by groundwater development;
               (2)  developing or distributing alternative water
  supplies; and
               (3)  conducting aquifer monitoring, data collection,
  and aquifer science.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3059 was passed by the House on April
  18, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 117, Nays 27, 1 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 3059 on May 23, 2023, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 3059 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 119,
  Nays 25, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3059 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 18, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 25, Nays
  6; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  3059 on May 27, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 25, Nays 6.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor