The House — Committee on Natural Resources — 89th Legislature — June 23, 2026 — 10:00 a.m. — E2.036 — — Pursuant to a — notice posted on June 1, 2026, the House Committee on Natural Resources met in — a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Harris, — at 10:02 a.m. — — The initial quorum — call was answered as follows: Representatives Harris; Ashby; Barry; Bell, — Cecil; Buckley; Gámez; Garcia, Josey; González, Mary; Romero; and Zwiener. — — A quorum was — present. — — — The Chair — recognized the following members in attendance: — — Representative — Dean — Representative — Hickland — Representative Orr — Representative — Kerwin — — The Chair gave — opening remarks. — — Agency Oversight — — The committee took — invited testimony on the following interim charge: Pursuant to the broad — oversight responsibilities granted to the Committee under Section 301.014, — Government Code, and the House Rules of Procedure, monitor the Texas Water — Development Board, under the Committee’s jurisdiction, including for fraud, — waste, and abuse, where applicable. — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — Monitoring — — The committee took — invited testimony on the following interim charge: Monitor the implementation — and associated rulemaking of the following legislation passed by the Committee — and enacted by the 89th Legislature to ensure that legislative purposes are — properly implemented: HJR 7, proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate a — portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas — water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue; — SB 7, relating to — the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the — jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board. — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Bell, Cecil in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Harris in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — Program Capacity — — The committee took — invited testimony on the following interim charge: Assess the capacity of — existing state and federal water infrastructure financial assistance programs, — including the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas. Evaluate strategies to — leverage the dedicated revenue stream established by Proposition 4(HJR 7, 89th — Regular Session) to meet identified capital needs and develop recommendations — to mitigate any possible short-term funding shortfalls. — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Bell, Cecil in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Harris in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — Data Center Water — Use and Conservation — — The committee took — invited and public testimony on the following interim charge: Examine the total — water usage of data center operations in Texas, including direct and indirect — uses. Evaluate regulatory, permitting, and infrastructure considerations for — water-efficient data center development, particularly in water-stressed — regions. Consider policy options to optimize water resources and enhance water — stewardship in the data center sector. — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — The Chair — recognized Representative Spiller in attendance. — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Bell, Cecil in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Harris in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Ashby in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Harris in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — The Chair closed — registration for testimony. — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Bell, Cecil in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — (Representative — Harris in chair.) — — Testimony — taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — At 8:06 p.m., on — the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned — subject to the call of the chair. — — — — Rep. Harris, Chair — — — — Robert Moncada, — Clerk

The House Committee on Natural Resources

89th Legislature

June 23, 2026

10:00 a.m.

E2.036

Pursuant to a notice posted on June 1, 2026, the House Committee on Natural Resources met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Harris, at 10:02 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Harris; Ashby; Barry; Bell, Cecil; Buckley; Gámez; Garcia, Josey; González, Mary; Romero; and Zwiener.

A quorum was present.

The Chair recognized the following members in attendance:

Representative Dean

Representative Hickland

Representative Orr

Representative Kerwin

The Chair gave opening remarks.

Agency Oversight

The committee took invited testimony on the following interim charge: Pursuant to the broad oversight responsibilities granted to the Committee under Section 301.014, Government Code, and the House Rules of Procedure, monitor the Texas Water Development Board, under the Committee’s jurisdiction, including for fraud, waste, and abuse, where applicable.

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

Monitoring

The committee took invited testimony on the following interim charge: Monitor the implementation and associated rulemaking of the following legislation passed by the Committee and enacted by the 89th Legislature to ensure that legislative purposes are properly implemented: HJR 7, proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue;

SB 7, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.

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

(Representative Bell, Cecil in chair.)

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

(Representative Harris in chair.)

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

Program Capacity

The committee took invited testimony on the following interim charge: Assess the capacity of existing state and federal water infrastructure financial assistance programs, including the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas. Evaluate strategies to leverage the dedicated revenue stream established by Proposition 4(HJR 7, 89th Regular Session) to meet identified capital needs and develop recommendations to mitigate any possible short-term funding shortfalls.

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

(Representative Bell, Cecil in chair.)

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

(Representative Harris in chair.)

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

Data Center Water Use and Conservation

The committee took invited and public testimony on the following interim charge: Examine the total water usage of data center operations in Texas, including direct and indirect uses. Evaluate regulatory, permitting, and infrastructure considerations for water-efficient data center development, particularly in water-stressed regions. Consider policy options to optimize water resources and enhance water stewardship in the data center sector.

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

The Chair recognized Representative Spiller in attendance.

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

(Representative Bell, Cecil in chair.)

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

(Representative Harris in chair.)

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

(Representative Ashby in chair.)

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

(Representative Harris in chair.)

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

The Chair closed registration for testimony.

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

(Representative Bell, Cecil in chair.)

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

(Representative Harris in chair.)

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

At 8:06 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. Harris, Chair

________________________________________________

Robert Moncada, Clerk