Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1746 House Committee Report / Analysis

Filed 05/18/2023

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                    BILL ANALYSIS             S.B. 1746     By: Perry     Natural Resources     Committee Report (Unamended)             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    Some landowners have expressed frustration over the approval process for a temporary well permit. Some groundwater conservation districts have taken a long time to approve such permits, requiring landowners to haul water in to drill a groundwater production well. S.B. 1746 seeks to provide for an exemption from groundwater conservation district permitting requirements for a temporary well that is to be used to supply water for a rig engaged in drilling a groundwater production well.        CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.       RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.       ANALYSIS    S.B. 1746 amends the Water Code to require a groundwater conservation district to provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a permit for drilling a water well for temporary use to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district. An exemption for such a water well may not exceed 180 days, except that a district may grant an extension of the exemption until the well is complete. The bill authorizes a district to cancel a previously granted exemption and require an operating permit for or restrict production from a well and assess any appropriate fees if the groundwater withdrawals that were exempted as provided by the bill are no longer used solely to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district.        EFFECTIVE DATE    September 1, 2023.          

BILL ANALYSIS

# BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1746
By: Perry
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)

S.B. 1746

By: Perry

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    Some landowners have expressed frustration over the approval process for a temporary well permit. Some groundwater conservation districts have taken a long time to approve such permits, requiring landowners to haul water in to drill a groundwater production well. S.B. 1746 seeks to provide for an exemption from groundwater conservation district permitting requirements for a temporary well that is to be used to supply water for a rig engaged in drilling a groundwater production well.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS    S.B. 1746 amends the Water Code to require a groundwater conservation district to provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a permit for drilling a water well for temporary use to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district. An exemption for such a water well may not exceed 180 days, except that a district may grant an extension of the exemption until the well is complete. The bill authorizes a district to cancel a previously granted exemption and require an operating permit for or restrict production from a well and assess any appropriate fees if the groundwater withdrawals that were exempted as provided by the bill are no longer used solely to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district.
EFFECTIVE DATE    September 1, 2023.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

 

Some landowners have expressed frustration over the approval process for a temporary well permit. Some groundwater conservation districts have taken a long time to approve such permits, requiring landowners to haul water in to drill a groundwater production well. S.B. 1746 seeks to provide for an exemption from groundwater conservation district permitting requirements for a temporary well that is to be used to supply water for a rig engaged in drilling a groundwater production well. 

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY 

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS 

 

S.B. 1746 amends the Water Code to require a groundwater conservation district to provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a permit for drilling a water well for temporary use to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district. An exemption for such a water well may not exceed 180 days, except that a district may grant an extension of the exemption until the well is complete. The bill authorizes a district to cancel a previously granted exemption and require an operating permit for or restrict production from a well and assess any appropriate fees if the groundwater withdrawals that were exempted as provided by the bill are no longer used solely to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

 

September 1, 2023.