S.B. No. 1080
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a mitigation program and fees for the Lost Pines
  Groundwater Conservation District.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 8849, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8849.107 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 8849.107.  MITIGATION PROGRAM. (a) The district
  shall, by rule adopted in accordance with Section 36.101, Water
  Code, establish a mitigation program to address excessive drawdown
  of an aquifer or subdivision of an aquifer in the district that
  results in:
               (1)  the potentiometric surface being below a desired
  future condition; or 
               (2)  nonproductive wells.
         (b)  In order to provide a balance between the highest
  practicable level of groundwater production and the conservation,
  preservation, protection, recharge, and prevention of waste of
  groundwater and control of subsidence, a mitigation program
  established under this section may provide reimbursement for the
  cost of repairing or replacing wells described by Section
  36.117(b)(1), Water Code, to access groundwater below the
  potentiometric surface of the aquifer or subdivision of an aquifer
  that is the subject of the program.
         (c)  The district shall offer to enter into a reciprocal
  agreement with an adjacent groundwater conservation district or a
  groundwater conservation district located in Groundwater
  Management Area 12 to support a jointly managed mitigation program.  
  The district may fund the mitigation program with production fees,
  export fees, or any other revenue available to the district.
         SECTION 2.  Section 8849.151, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 8849.151.  [PUMPING] FEES.  (a)  The district may
  assess production [regulatory pumping] fees under Section
  36.205(c), Water Code, and export fees under Section 36.122, Water
  Code [for water produced in or exported from the district].
         (b)  The production [regulatory pumping] fees the district
  assesses for water for crop or livestock production or other
  agricultural uses may not exceed 20 percent of the rate applied to
  water for municipal uses.
         (c)  Production [Regulatory pumping] fees [based on the
  amount of water withdrawn from a well] may not exceed:
               (1)  $1 for each acre-foot for water used to irrigate
  agricultural crops; or
               (2)  17 cents for each thousand gallons for water used
  for any other purpose.
         [(d)  Combined regulatory pumping fees for production and
  export of water may not exceed 17 cents for each thousand gallons
  for water used.]
         SECTION 3.  Mitigation payments and fees assessed before the
  effective date of this Act are ratified, confirmed, and validated
  in all respects.
         SECTION 4.  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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1080 passed the Senate on
  March 28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 23, 2023, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1080 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142,
  Nays 1, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor