80th Legislature: Major Water Bill Passes Second Reading
Vince Leibowitz | Mar 01, 2007 | Comments 0
HB 3, the first major water bill of the session, passed on second reading yesterday in the Texas House. For some reason, however, it was a “non-record vote.”
At any rate, the legislation is designed to help manage water levels across the state and was able to get through the reading without much amending, as it was feared that some my attempt to amend the bill into oblivion.
Here’s a bit more on the bill via the DMN:
The bill, which would ensure that decisions on future water permits aren’t made without input from those downstream, has found support among representatives of drought-ridden districts that have watched lake levels drop and the fishing economy and health of bays and estuaries suffer.
The bill gives Texans “a mechanism to allow the continuous flow of rivers,” said Rep. Robert Puente, the San Antonio Democrat who filed the bill. “This will be a basin-by-basin approach to make sure our rivers are protected.”
Of course, folks in Dallas don’t like the bill, fearing they may eventually be forced to send more water down the Trinity River. In essence, they fear they will become victim to a “Robin Hood” water plan.
Instead, they would prefer a Dewhurst-backed measure in the senate that would balance things out through the creation of more reservoirs. This bill is SB3, an omnibus water bill, which we discussed here.
Another vote on HB 3 is expected today. Bill analysis is here.
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Filed Under: 80th Legislature
