| 1 | 1 | | 89R5905 JAM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: VanDeaver H.B. No. 2620 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the inclusion of certain sources of water supply in |
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| 10 | 10 | | regional water plans. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 16.053, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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| 13 | 13 | | Subsection (e-3) to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (e-3) In identifying potential sources of water supply to be |
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| 15 | 15 | | included in a regional water plan, including sites of unique value |
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| 16 | 16 | | for the construction of reservoirs identified under Subsection |
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| 17 | 17 | | (e)(6), a regional water planning group may not include in the plan |
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| 18 | 18 | | a source of water supply that requires the use of eminent domain and |
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| 19 | 19 | | is located in another regional water planning area unless the |
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| 20 | 20 | | planning group: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) demonstrates that all possible new sources of |
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| 22 | 22 | | water supply within the planning group's planning area, including |
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| 23 | 23 | | desalination projects and projects to expand and improve existing |
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| 24 | 24 | | water supply sources, will be insufficient to meet the planning |
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| 25 | 25 | | area's future water needs; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) demonstrates that all potentially feasible water |
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| 27 | 27 | | management strategies identified under Subsection (e)(5)(C) have |
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| 28 | 28 | | been implemented throughout the planning group's planning area; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (3) submits to the board a report that: |
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| 30 | 30 | | (A) identifies, analyzes, and quantifies any |
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| 31 | 31 | | negative effects on residents of the area where the proposed source |
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| 32 | 32 | | of water supply is located resulting from the development of that |
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| 33 | 33 | | water supply, including negative ecological, economic, and |
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| 34 | 34 | | educational effects; and |
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| 35 | 35 | | (B) includes a mitigation plan that alleviates |
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| 36 | 36 | | any negative effects identified in the study. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 38 | 38 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 39 | 39 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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