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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the consideration by a groundwater conservation |
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district of modeled available groundwater when issuing permits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 8863, Special District |
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Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8863.1031 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8863.1031. STUDY, REPORT, AND MORATORIUM (a) The |
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Texas Water Development Board shall conduct a study limited to the |
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geographic boundaries of the District to: |
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(1) analyze the maximum amount of groundwater that can |
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be produced annually in perpetuity from the aquifer underlying the |
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District without impeding the achievement of the District's modeled |
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available groundwater; and |
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(2) assess the hydrological impacts to the area within |
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the District, including the average annual recharge, inflows, |
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discharges, spring flows, and interaction between groundwater and |
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surface water, from transfers of groundwater out of the aquifer |
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underlying the District. |
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(b) Not later than January 12, 2027, the Texas Water |
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Development Board shall prepare and submit to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction |
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over natural resources a report on the results of the study |
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conducted under this section. |
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(c) The district may not issue a new permit or permit |
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amendment to an applicant for the production and transfer out of the |
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district of groundwater. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. Section 8863.1031, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a new permit or an |
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amended permit issued by the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater |
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Conservation District on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |