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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
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to study and report about water rights that may be subject to |
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cancellation for nonuse. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11.173, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsections (c) and (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c) At least once every five years, the commission shall: |
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(1) analyze permits, certified filings, and |
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certificates of adjudication under which all or part of the water |
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authorized to be appropriated has not been put to beneficial use at |
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any time during the immediately preceding 10-year period; and |
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(2) prepare and submit to the board, the Parks and |
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Wildlife Department, and the Legislative Budget Board a written |
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report that: |
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(A) identifies permits, certified filings, and |
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certificates of adjudication analyzed under Subdivision (1) for |
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which an exemption from cancellation is provided under Subsection |
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(b); |
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(B) identifies permits, certified filings, and |
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certificates of adjudication analyzed under Subdivision (1) that |
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may be subject to cancellation under Subsection (a); and |
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(C) for each permit, filing, or certificate |
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identified under Paragraph (B), specifies: |
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(i) the volume of water associated with the |
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permit, filing, or certificate; |
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(ii) whether an action for cancellation of |
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the permit, filing, or certificate has been initiated by the |
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commission; and |
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(iii) whether the water associated with the |
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permit, filing, or certificate may be appropriate for dedication to |
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the Texas Water Trust established under Section 15.7031. |
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(c-1) The commission shall submit the initial report |
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required by Subsection (c) not later than March 31, 2027. This |
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subsection expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |