Capitol Pipeline will be in your inbox every Tuesday with links to the bills being tracked by TRWA, updates on the progress of key pieces of legislation, and calls to action on legislation that directly impacts rural water systems across Texas.
CCN Compensation: On February 28, Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen) filedS.B. 1310, the Senate version of TRWA’s bill to provide utilities with fair compensation following decertification of their Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) area. The bill has been filed in the House as H.B. 1826, and is one of TRWA’s priority pieces of legislation for this session. We will be providing updates and mobilizing support for this bill at key points throughout the legislative process. The bill has been filed in the House as H.B. 1826, and is one of TRWA’s priority pieces of legislation for this session. The House version was referred to the House Natural Resources Committee today.
Please be thinking of ways this bill could help your utility so that you can share your perspective with lawmakers at the right time. We will be asking for those stories soon to help progress bolster our efforts on this legislation. Click here to learn more about the CCN compensation issue.
Senate Committee Hearing on Eminent Domain Bill Affecting WSCs: On March 4, the Senate State Affairs Committee held a hearing on S.B. 421, a bill by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) that would negatively affect the ability of WSCs to exercise their eminent domain authority. Lara Zent, TRWA’s Executive Director and General Counsel, testified against the bill, asserting that WSCs should be excluded from the bill. She differentiated these non-profit entities providing water to their local communities from the large for-profit pipeline and transportation companies.
Only learning about the hearing late Thursday of last week, TRWA’s strategy in addition to testifying against the bill, was to call upon a few TRWA member WSCs in each of the senators’ districts on the State Affairs Committee. It was apparent at the hearing that the committee members received a high volume of calls from their constituents, including TRWA members in their districts. TRWA would like to thank each member system who reached out to their senators – your calls added to a substantial coalition of opposition to this bill at the hearing. The committee did not take up a vote on the bill.
Support TRWA’s Legislative Agenda: TRWA will be requesting your help in supporting and opposing bills throughout the legislative session as they come up for key votes in committees and before the entire House or Senate. Please follow our Facebook page and be thinking of ways these bills could affect your utility so that you can share your perspective with your lawmakers when the time is right. If you would like to get involved now, please contact Trent in the TRWA Legal Department for talking points and direction on who you should speak with at the Capitol.
Water for All Texans Campaign The Water for All Texans campaign is in full swing to support our efforts at the Capitol. We have launched this campaign to educate the public about the two main issues we are tackling this legislative session. Stay tuned for calls to action from the campaign that will be necessary to achieve our goals this session! Click here to learn more!
Rural Water Day:
Wednesday, March 27 Mark your calendar for Rural Water Day at the Capitol: a chance to come together as one and tell our story with a powerful, unified voice. Don’t miss this opportunity to join forces with your peers as we engage our elected representatives together. Click here to learn more
