By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1643
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence
District over the North Harris County Regional Water Authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 8801.005, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 8801.005. DISTRICT TERRITORY. The district includes
the territory located within the boundaries of Harris County and
Galveston County, as that territory may have been modified under[:
[(1) Section 8801.006 or its predecessor statute,
former Section 151.003(b), Water Code; or
[(2)] other law.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 8801, Special District
Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8801.007 to read as
follows:
Sec. 8801.007. APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TERRITORY.
Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter does not apply to:
(1) the North Harris County Regional Water Authority;
or
(2) property located in the territory of the North
Harris County Regional Water Authority, as described by Subchapter
B, Chapter 8888.
SECTION 3. Section 8888.001(7), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(7) "Groundwater reduction plan" means a plan adopted
or implemented to supply water, reduce reliance on groundwater,
regulate groundwater pumping and water usage, or require and
allocate water usage among persons [in order to comply with or
exceed the minimum requirements imposed by the subsidence
district], including any applicable groundwater reduction
requirements.
SECTION 4. Section 8888.005(c), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c) The following laws do not apply to the authority:
(1) Chapter 8801 of this code;
(2) Chapter 36, Water Code;
(3) [(2)] Section 49.052, Water Code; and
(4) [(3)] Sections 49.451-49.455, Water Code.
SECTION 5. Section 8888.156(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) [The board by rule shall exempt from the fee established
under Subsection (a) each class of wells that is not subject to a
groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence
district. If an exempted class of wells becomes subject to a
groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence
district, the authority may charge the fee established under
Subsection (a) on the wells of that class.] The board by rule may
exempt any [other] class of wells from the fee established under
Subsection (a).
SECTION 6. Section 8888.157(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The groundwater reduction plan may be amended at the
discretion of the authority [subject to the requirements and
procedures of the subsidence district applicable to the amendment
of groundwater reduction plans].
SECTION 7. Section 8888.165(a), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) In implementing this chapter, the board may cooperate
with and request the assistance of the Texas Water Development
Board, the commission, the United States Geological Survey, the
Harris-Galveston Subsidence District [subsidence district], other
local governments, and other agencies of the United States and this
state.
SECTION 8. Section 8888.166(b), Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The authority may expedite the financing and
construction of a surface water delivery system, or other projects
of the authority, to accomplish a conversion from reliance on
groundwater to reliance on surface water not later than [the
earlier of:
[(1) the date required by the subsidence district; or
[(2)] the date determined by the board to be in the
interest of the authority or one or more districts inside or outside
the authority.
SECTION 9. The following provisions of the Special District
Local Laws Code are repealed:
(1) Section 8888.001(12);
(2) Section 8888.005(b);
(3) Section 8888.156(c);
(4) Section 8888.157(c);
(5) Section 8888.165(b); and
(6) Section 8888.201.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.