![]() ![]() House Bill (“HB”) 2215 (Price) – “DFC Adoption” – This is a TWCA consensus bill. Legislation successfully passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Those bills and a few other bills related to groundwater are discussed below. Ultimately, five of those bills were passed by the Legislature and one bill was vetoed by Governor Abbott. The Texas Water Conservation Association (“TWCA”) reassembled its Groundwater Stakeholder Committee this interim, and that group developed and supported eleven bills related to groundwater regulation and development in Texas. This article summarizes the significant legislation that impacted groundwater, surface water, water utility, and environmental issues. Under the Texas Constitution, the Special Session could extend up to 30 days but the Legislature could adjourn before the end of the 30-day time period. ![]() As a result, Governor Abbott announced that he would call a Special Session to start on July 18th for the Legislature to work on 20 issues that Governor Abbott believes need to be addressed. Several bills that were important to Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Straus did not pass during the Regular Session. The Legislature also approved the one bill the Legislature is required by the Texas Constitution to approve, when the Legislature approved a $217 billion budget to address the expenses of the State of Texas for the next two years. The Texas Legislature did pass some major legislation during the Regular Session, including legislation to address immigration enforcement (sanctuary cities), windstorm insurance, foster care system reform, and statewide ban on texting while driving. Then Governor Abbott ended up vetoing 50 of the 1,211 bills that were passed by the Texas Legislature. While 6,631 bills were filed during the Regular Session and only 1,211 bills ultimately passed. The difficult nature of the Regular Session was reflected in the bill passage rate, which was one of the lowest percentages in some time. For many observers of the Texas Legislature, the 2017 Regular Session will be remembered as one of the most contentious and acrimonious sessions in many years. The Texas Legislature wrapped up its Regular Session when it adjourned sine die on May 29th after many long days of legislative debate and action. ![]()
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