Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________ N ATURAL
/Water
ATURAL RESOURCES/Water
77 th Texas Legislature
State Water Resources – Management and Conservation - S.B. 2
by Senator Brown
House Sponsor: Representative Ron Lewis
In 1997, the 75 th Legislature passed S.B. 1, a statewide management plan for the development and
conservation of water resources in Texas. S.B. 2 addresses the implementation and financing of the water
strategies and recommendations identified in the last four years by the state's 16 regional water planning
groups. This bill is made up of several articles outlined below.
Texas Water Advisory Council
Creates the 13-member Texas Water Advisory Council (council) to heighten the level of dialogue on
significant water policy issues and, in an advisory role only, provide focus and recommendations regarding
state water initiatives, such as:
• promoting incentives for water desalination, brush control, regionalization of water projects,
weather modification, and public-private partnerships relating to water projects;
• promoting adequate financing for surface water and groundwater projects;
• development of water conservation and drought management projects;
• implementation of approved regional and state water plans;
• encouraging commonality of technical data, such as joint agency studies;
• coordinating a unified state position on federal and international water issues;
• encouraging the use of supplemental environmental projects for water infrastructure needs; and
• offering advice for development of prioritization criteria for the Texas Water Development Board
(TWDB) for funding of projects recommended in the state water plan.
Prohibits the council from the following:
• adopting rules;
• regulating water use, water quality, or any other aspect of water resource management;
• planning or constructing water resource projects;
• granting or lending money for the construction of water resource projects; and
• establishing water management standards or otherwise infringing upon the duties, responsibilities,
or powers of local, regional, or state water management entities.
Requires the council to provide a forum for state-level review of water authorities, including groundwater
districts, river authorities and compacts, regional water planning groups, or member agencies of the
council.
Senate Research Center 229