BILL ASSISTING LEE CO. WELL OWNERS VETOED; LEGISLATION TO RAISE GROUNDWATER EXPORT FEES PASSES

  

A bill providing targeted relief for well owners in Lee and Bastrop counties was vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott, but another bill benefitting groundwater districts around the state is set to become law.

Senate Bill 1080, filed in regular session by District 18 Senator Lois Kolkhorst, would have granted the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District the ability to establish a mitigation program to aid domestic or livestock well owners who have been impacted by large pumping operations. 

The bill passed in both the Senate and House but was struck down by Abbott, who said the bill can be reconsidered in a future special session once legislators pass property tax relief. 

Kolkhorst said she is “not happy” that SB 1080, a bill with overwhelming support from legislators and the Lee and Bastrop County commissioners courts, fell victim to Abbott’s wave of vetoes amid the ongoing debate on property taxes.

District 17 Representative Stan Gerdes, who sponsored the bill in the House, was unavailable for comment.

While the fate of SB 1080 depends on if it is brought back in another special session, House Bill 3059 was filed without the governor’s signature and will become effective September 1^st.  Kolkhorst, who co-sponsored the bill in the Senate, said the legislation applies to water districts across Texas and gives them additional ways to assist well owners.

Specifically, HB 3059 allows groundwater conservation districts to raise the export fee from 17 to 20 cents per each thousand gallons of water exported from the district.  The maximum allowable rate a district can charge for an export fee may increase by 3 percent each year. 

In addition, the bill permits water districts to use the fees collected to facilitate reductions in groundwater pumping, develop alternative water supplies, or maintain the operability of wells significantly affected by groundwater development.  Fees can also go toward aquifer monitoring, data collection and aquifer science.