By: Canales H.B. No. 4373
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the procedure by which a regional water planning group
  is required to provide notice of certain public meetings or
  hearings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 16.053(h)(3), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (3)  After the regional water plan is initially
  prepared, the regional water planning group shall, after notice,
  hold at least one public hearing at some central location readily
  accessible to the public within the regional water planning area.
  The group shall make copies of the plan available for public
  inspection at least one month before the hearing on the group's
  Internet website [by providing a copy of the plan in the county
  courthouse and at least one public library of each county having
  land in the region]. Notice for the hearing shall include the
  address of the website[a listing of these] and any other location
  where the plan is available for review. The group shall consider and
  accommodate residents of the regional water planning area who may
  need assistance accessing the plan because of a lack of access to
  Internet services.
         SECTION 2.  Section 16.053(h)(8), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (8)  Notice required by Subdivision (1), (3), or (6) of
  this subsection may be provided by additional electronic means,
  including direct e-mail, and must be[:
                     (A)  posted on the regional water planning group's
  website [published once in a newspaper of general circulation in
  each county located in whole or in part in the regional water
  planning area before the 30th day preceding the date of the public
  meeting or hearing]; [and]
                     (B)  mailed to:
                           (i)  each mayor of a municipality with a
  population of 1,000 or more that is located in whole or in part in
  the regional water planning area;
                           (ii)  each county judge of a county located
  in whole or in part in the regional water planning area;
                           (iii)  each special or general law district
  or river authority with responsibility to manage or supply water in
  the regional water planning area;
                           (iv)  each retail public utility that:
                                 (a)  serves any part of the regional
  water planning area; or
                                 (b)  receives water from the regional
  water planning area; and
                           (v)  each holder of record of a permit,
  certified filing, or certificate of adjudication for the use of
  surface water the diversion of which occurs in the regional water
  planning area; and[.]
                     (C)  the regional water planning group shall
  consider and accommodate residents of the regional water planning
  area who may need assistance accessing notice published by
  electronic means because of a lack of access to Internet services,
  particularly when there is a heightened interest in or response to
  public notice or comment.
         SECTION 3.  Section 16.053(h)(9), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (9)  Notice provided [published] or mailed under
  Subdivision (8) of this subsection must contain:
                     (A)  the date, time, and location of the public
  meeting or hearing;
                     (B)  a summary of the proposed action to be taken;
                     (C)  the name, telephone number, and address of
  the person to whom questions or requests for additional information
  may be submitted; and
                     (D)  information on how the public may submit
  comments.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a notice required to be given on or after the effective date of
  this Act. A notice required to be given before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the notice is
  given, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.