BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4158

By: Louderback

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a director of a groundwater conservation district is entitled to receive fees of office for each day the director actually spends performing the duties of a director, capped at $250 a day and $9,000 a year. However, certain other law explicitly prohibits directors of the Texana Groundwater Conservation District, which is located wholly in Jackson County, from receiving any compensation for service as a director. The bill author has informed the committee that this may hinder the district's ability to recruit qualified directors. H.B. 4158 seeks to allow the Texana Groundwater Conservation District to compensate its directors.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4158 repeals Section 8857.056, Special District Local Laws Code, which prohibits a director of the Texana Groundwater Conservation District from receiving a salary or other compensation for service as a director but authorizes such a director to be reimbursed for actual expenses of attending meetings at the rate in effect for employees of Jackson County.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.