Hill Country Natural Resources and the 87th Legislative Session
The Hill Country Alliance is working with countless partners to track, inform, and respond to issues as they come up during the 87th Texas Legislative Session. This is far from an exhaustive list of the bills that could have a very real impact—positive or negative—on the Hill Country. As bills move through the legislative process, things can change quickly. If you are particularly interested in a bill, legislator, or subject area, the best way to stay informed is to sign up for email alerts via the Texas Legislature Online (you can sign up for alerts on a specific bill, legislator, committee, etc.).
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Bills Being Considered TODAY in Committee
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Several important pieces of legislation are being considered today at House Land & Resource Management and House Natural Resources Committee. Let your voice be heard- submit comments on this legislation to register your support or opposition!
House Land & Resource Management Committee: 8am Tuesday, April 6.
HB 3883, Biedermann. Would empower county governments in the Hill Country to regulate some aspects of new development, if voters in the county consent. This bill would be a significant step in the right direction of giving some of our fastest growing Hill Country counties more tools to plan for and manage growth. You can register your support for HB 3883 here.
HB 3746, Kuempel. This bill restricts a city’s ability to require that water & sewer facilities built in the city’s ETJ be designed & constructed in compliance with the city’s standards. Certain water & sewer facilities in city’s ETJ would only subject to PUC’s design & construction standards. This would be a step in the wrong direction for the Hill Country. Register your opposition to HB 3746 here.
House Natural Resources Committee: 8am Tuesday, April 6
HB 2652, Larson. Establishes a groundwater and surface water advisory board to study challenges related to groundwater and surface water interactions and to make policy recommendations. You can register your support here.
HB 3619, Bowers. Requires GCDs, before granting a permit, to consider whether there will be unreasonable impacts to exempt wells. This bill protects landowners, especially the little guys who are impacted by large permit requests. You can register your support here.
HB 2716, King. This bill would restore TPWD's authority to contest water rights and TCEQ permits, including treated wastewater discharge permits. You can register your support here.
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Good Bills for the Hill Country
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These bills would help advance the conservation of our natural resources, rural working ranchlands, economic prosperity, and quality of life in the Texas Hill Country.
Water
HB 2716, King. This bill would restore TPWD's authority to contest water rights and TCEQ permits, including treated wastewater discharge permits.
HB 4146, King and companion bill SB 1747, Zaffarini: Bans the direct discharge of treated wastewater effluent into pristine streams.
HB 2652, Larson. Establishes a groundwater and surface water advisory board to study challenges related to groundwater and surface water interactions and to make policy recommendations.
HB 2851, Lucio III. This bill requires the TWDB to determine the “modeled sustainable groundwater pumping” of aquifers and for GCDs to consider this volume when adopting desired future conditions.
HB 3619, Bowers. This bill requires a groundwater conservation district to consider impacts to registered, exempt wells when evaluating permits.
HB 2350, Zwiener. Would provide financial assistance to political subdivisions from the Texas Water Development Board for nature-based water quality enhancement projects. This bill would allow state revolving fund established to finance water projects to be used to provide financial assistance for nature-based infrastructure that will improve water quality in the political subdivision where the project is located, including the acquisition of real property and the use of nature-based water treatment technologies.
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Eminent Domain Reform
HB 901, Burns. This is a good bill that brings forward much of what Senator Kolkhorst passed in the Senate last session. The bill addresses fair market value offer; notice of Landowner Bill of Rights and a list of required easement terms.
HB 448, Bailes. This bill allows property owners to file complaints of alleged misconduct against certain entities regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission; providing a civil penalty.
HB 2041, Leman. This bill states that a condemning entity shall disclose to the property owner any and all existing appraisal reports, produced or acquired, relating specifically to the owner’s property at least 3 days before a special commissioners’ hearing.
HB 2044, Leman. Relating to establishing actual progress for the purpose of determining the right to repurchase real property from a condemning entity.
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Night Skies
HB 298, Zwiener: Allows cities to regulate outdoor lighting in their extra-territorial jurisdictions (ETJs), if they have applied for a Dark Sky Community designation from the International Dark-Sky Association. [Passed out of Urban Affairs Committee]
SB 1090, Buckingham: Ensures that cities can adopt outdoor lighting ordinances after a 2019 law made it unclear whether cities could were authorized to do so.
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Other
AGGREGATES & CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS: HB 1912, Wilson, and companion bill SB 1209, Schwertner: Introduces important reforms to the APO permitting process, including requirements for air quality monitoring, water conservation, safe road access, reclamation, and best practices for noise, lighting, and blasting.
COUNTY AUTHORITY: HB 3883, Biedermann. Would empower county governments in the Hill Country to regulate some aspects of new development, if voters in the County consent.
SCENIC VIEWS & BILLBOARDS: HB 1512, Zwiener: Gives certain counties the ability to regulate new billboards on farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads. [Referred to Transportation Committee]
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Bills of Concern for the Hill Country
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These bills could limit Hill Country communities in ways detrimental to thoughtful growth and natural resource preservation.
WATER PLANNING: HB 3746, Kuempel. Restricts a city’s ability to require that water & sewer facilities built in the city’s ETJ be designed & constructed in compliance with the city’s standards. Certain water & sewer facilities in city’s ETJ would only subject to PUC’s design & construction standards.
EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM: HB 2730, Deshotel. This bill is a modified version of HB 902 crafted by industry. It is not a step forward for landowners.
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HOUSE BILL 3883
Good legislation for the Hill Country
Read More →
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HOUSE BILL 2350
Nature-based infrastructure bill headed to House floor as Legislative session continues
Read More →
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WINTER STORM RECOVERY
Texas lawmakers want to prevent another power crisis. But the legislation doesn’t go far enough to do that, critics say.
Read More →
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WATCH LIVE UPDATES
Live streaming video from the Texas House and Senate
Read More →
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Questions? For more information, check the Legislature & Regulation page on the Hill Country Alliance website.
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