Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________ N ATURAL
/Water
ATURAL RESOURCES/Water
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires state agencies that are members of the Texas Geographic Information Council (TGIC) to provide
information to the TGIC about their investments in geographic information and plans for its use. Member
entities that are not state agencies may provide this information. Requires TGIC, not later than September
1 of each even-numbered year, to provide to the board, the Department of Information Resources, the
governor, and the legislature a plan that inventories known state agency geographic information systems
projects and recommends initiatives to improve the state's geographic information systems programs.
Requires the board and the State Soil and Water Conservation Board to jointly conduct a study of the ways
to improve or expand water conservation efforts and report to the legislature. Sets out what the report must
include. This report is part of the state water plan.
Modifies current law to provide that the board may acquire all or part (instead of up to 50 percent) of any
authorized facility related to water development to the extent that the board finds that the political
subdivision wanting the facility is willing and reasonably able to finance that portion of the cost of the facility
that the board does not acquire.
Authorizes the board to use money in the agricultural water conservation fund to make loans to certain
political subdivisions for agricultural water conservation projects, grants to political subdivisions for
agricultural water conservation projects as provided by legislative appropriation, or grants to a state agency
for the funding of any agricultural water conservation program of that agency. Authorizes the board by rule
to establish for procedures for applying for such loans or grants.
Creates the Colonia Initiatives Advisory Committee and sets out its composition and duties.
Authorizes the governing body of a taxing unit to exempt from taxation part or all of the assessed value of
property on which approved desalination projects or brush control initiatives have been implemented.
Approved desalination and brush control initiatives must be designated pursuant to an ordinance or law.
Exempts from the Limited Sales, Excise, and Use Tax Act certain equipment, services, or supplies used to
reduce or eliminate water use, for desalination of surface water or groundwater, for brush control designed
to enhance the availability of water, for precipitation enhancement, to construct or operate a regional water
or wastewater system, and to construct or operate a water supply or wastewater system by a private entity
as a certified public-private partnership.
Provides that if S.B. 322, relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Department of Housing and
Community Affairs, becomes law and that bill provides for a committee similar to the Colonia Resident
Advisory Committee, it is the legislature’s intent that this Act will govern.
Poultry Growers Must Have Water Quality Plan - S.B. 1339
by Senator Ogden
House Sponsor: Representative McReynolds
Currently, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (board) operates a voluntary water quality
management program to aid producers in developing and implementing site-specific management plans to
Senate Research Center 236