Each session AWBD’s Legislative Affairs Committee tracks bills that correspond to AWBD’s legislative priorities. Below are bills that AWBD was following at the time of publication (early March). To search for up-to-date information on bills, visit https://capitol.texas.gov/.
HB 1154 (Jetton) Relating to the requirement that certain political subdivisions cause certain information to be posted on an Internet website (requiring established districts to provide additional information)
H.B. 1410 (Murphy)/S.B. 1959 (Creighton) Relating to the provision of parks and recreational facilities by water districts (allowing certain districts to obtain more parks and recreation bond funding subject to an election and TCEQ approval)
State Regulation
H.B. 968 (Dutton) Relating to public comments on matters subject to a hearing under the jurisdiction of the TCEQ.
H.B. 767 (Huberty) Relating to best management practices for aggregate production operations.
H.B. 2717 (Landgraf) Relating to certain requirements for water systems (weatherization of water facilities)
H.B. 2762 (Rogers) Relating to the exclusion of certain facilities from load shedding participation during a rolling blackout (excludes water facilities from rotating outages)
Creation of Special Districts
H.B. 2525 (Huberty) Relating to the creation of the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District
H.B. 3029/S.B. 1160 (Paul/Taylor) Relating to the creation of the Gulf Coast Protection District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose fees; providing authority to impose a tax; granting the power of eminent domain.
Eminent Domain
H.B. 901 (Burns) Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority
H.B. 902 (Burns) Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority
H.B. 2730 (Deshotel) Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority
S.B. 986 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority
Publication of Notice
H.B. 1030 (Shaheen) Relating to the publication of required notice by a political subdivision by alternative media
Public Information and Open Meetings
H.B. 1473/S.B. 526 (Gates/Kolkhorst) Relating to the requirements for meetings held and Internet websites developed by certain special purpose districts
H.B. 768 (Patterson) Relating to the requirement that certain governmental bodies make audio and video recordings of open meetings available on the Internet
H.B. 1118 (Capriglione) Relating to state agency and local government compliance with cybersecurity training requirements
H.B. 1810/S.B. 729 & S.B. 928 (Capriglione/Johnson & Zaffirini) Relating to maintenance and production of electronic public information under the public information law
H.B. 1888 & H.B. 3139 (Fierro & Longoria) Relating to the authority of all governmental bodies to hold open and closed meetings by telephone or videoconference call
H.B. 2662 (Krause) Relating to the elimination of certain regulations waived during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (including TOMA)
H.B. 2560/S.B. 639 (Martinez/Menendez) Relating to remote meetings under the open meetings law
Other Issues
H.B. 692/S.B. 1097 (Shine/Creighton) Relating to retainage requirements for certain public works construction projects
Special thanks to the Texas Water Conservation Association for its help on this list and having former AWBD Executive Director, Auggie Campbell, on its legislative panel at its annual conference on March 5, 2021.
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