The House Committee on Natural Resources

88th Legislature

September 24, 2024

10:00 a.m.

E2.016

Pursuant to a notice posted on September 9, 2024, the House Committee on Natural Resources met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative King, Tracy O., at 10:01 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives King, Tracy O.; Thompson, Ed; Kitzman; Price; Rogers; and Zwiener.

A quorum was present.

The Committee heard testimony on the following charge: Water Reuse Expansion: Examine opportunities to expand the reuse of waters in Texas as an additional water supply and identify funding deficiencies for water reuse projects and regulatory impediments that make expansion of water reuse difficult in Texas.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

(Representative Kacal now present.)

(Representative Ramos now present.)

(Representative Lalani now present.)

The Committee heard testimony on the flowing charge: Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

· SB 28, relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

The Committee heard testimony on the following charge: Reliability of Clean Water Access: Evaluate the causes, durations, and incidence of boil water notices issued by public water systems. Identify solutions to keep critical water infrastructure online during public water system failures and consider whether policy changes are necessary to prevent interruption to the public’s access to clean, reliable drinking water.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

The Committee heard testimony on the following charge: Groundwater Infrastructure: Examine Texas groundwater data infrastructure, data collection, and monitoring practices and identify policy solutions for improvement in the areas of understanding local groundwater conditions; groundwater modeling for planning and decision-making; and resource management.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

At 2:21 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

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Rep. King, Tracy O., Chair

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Sam Bacarisse, Clerk