88R20694 JAM-F
 
  By: Orr, Ashby, Harris of Anderson, Bonnen, H.B. No. 4757
      Burrows, et al.
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4757:
 
  By:  Ashby C.S.H.B. No. 4757
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the approval by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the
  authorization for an appropriation of water from certain water
  bodies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 11.1274 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.1274.  ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT: APPROVAL OF
  APPROPRIATION FROM CERTAIN WATER BODIES. The commission may not
  approve an application for a new or amended water right authorizing
  an appropriation of water from Big Brown Creek or Fairfield Lake in
  the Trinity River basin of Freestone County unless the application:
               (1)  has first been approved by the Parks and Wildlife
  Commission; and
               (2)  provides for the preservation of the historical
  public access to and uses and water levels of Fairfield Lake.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
  new or amended water right for which an application is pending
  before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the
  effective date of this Act or is filed with the commission on or
  after that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.