89R9362 KRM-D

By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 976

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an advisory board to study surface water and groundwater interaction.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "advisory board" means the Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction Advisory Board.

SECTION 2. SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED. (a) The Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction Advisory Board is established and consists of 12 persons as follows:

(1) the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board;

(2) one person to represent the interests of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, recommended by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;

(3) two persons to represent the interests of river authorities, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;

(4) two persons to represent the interests of groundwater conservation districts, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;

(5) two persons with academic or specialist knowledge in the area of surface water and groundwater interaction, with one appointed by the chair of the house natural resources committee and another appointed by the chair of the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;

(6) one person to represent environmental interests or the interests relating to the interaction of surface water and groundwater, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;

(7) the chair of the house natural resources committee;

(8) the chair of the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee; and

(9) one person from the office of the governor, appointed by the governor.

(b) The executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board serves as the chair of the advisory board.

SECTION 3. PUBLIC MEETING. The advisory board shall hold at least one public meeting each year in order to accept comments from the public on matters studied by the advisory board.

SECTION 4. SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION STUDY. (a) The advisory board shall study:

(1) the extent to which surface water and groundwater interact in this state;

(2) challenges arising in this state from the interaction of surface water and groundwater; and

(3) approaches to mitigating challenges arising in this state from the interaction of surface water and groundwater.

(b) In conducting the study under this section, the advisory board shall consult with:

(1) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(2) groundwater conservation districts; and

(3) river authorities.

SECTION 5. STUDY UPDATES AND REPORT; EXPIRATION OF ACT. (a) Not later than December 1 of each year, the advisory board shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature an annual status report on the progress of the study conducted under Section 4 of this Act.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2034, the advisory board shall deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature a final report on the determinations of the advisory board based on the study conducted under Section 4 of this Act.

(c) The advisory board shall deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, or a member of the legislature information related to the annual status report under Subsection (a) of this section or the final report under Subsection (b) of this section on request.

(d) The advisory board is abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2035.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2025.