Oliverson Bill Frees North Harris Water Authority From Subsidence District

The text as introduced · 641 words

By: Oliverson
H.B. No. 1643

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence

District over the North Harris County Regional Water Authority.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 8801.005, Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 8801.005. DISTRICT TERRITORY. The district includes

the territory located within the boundaries of Harris County and

Galveston County, as that territory may have been modified under[ :

[ (1) Section 8801.006 or its predecessor statute,

former Section 151.003(b), Water Code; or

[ (2) ] other law.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 8801, Special District

Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8801.007 to read as

follows:

Sec. 8801.007. APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TERRITORY.

Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter does not apply to:

(1) the North Harris County Regional Water Authority;

or

(2) property located in the territory of the North

Harris County Regional Water Authority, as described by Subchapter

B, Chapter 8888.

SECTION 3. Section 8888.001(7), Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(7) "Groundwater reduction plan" means a plan adopted

or implemented to supply water, reduce reliance on groundwater,

regulate groundwater pumping and water usage, or require and

allocate water usage among persons [ in order to comply with or

exceed the minimum requirements imposed by the subsidence

district ], including any applicable groundwater reduction

requirements.

SECTION 4. Section 8888.005(c), Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The following laws do not apply to the authority:

(1) Chapter 8801 of this code;

(2) Chapter 36, Water Code;

(3) [ (2) ] Section 49.052, Water Code; and

(4) [ (3) ] Sections 49.451-49.455, Water Code.

SECTION 5. Section 8888.156(b), Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) [ The board by rule shall exempt from the fee established

under Subsection (a) each class of wells that is not subject to a

groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence

district. If an exempted class of wells becomes subject to a

groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence

district, the authority may charge the fee established under

Subsection (a) on the wells of that class. ] The board by rule may

exempt any [ other ] class of wells from the fee established under

Subsection (a).

SECTION 6. Section 8888.157(b), Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The groundwater reduction plan may be amended at the

discretion of the authority [ subject to the requirements and

procedures of the subsidence district applicable to the amendment

of groundwater reduction plans ].

SECTION 7. Section 8888.165(a), Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In implementing this chapter, the board may cooperate

with and request the assistance of the Texas Water Development

Board, the commission, the United States Geological Survey, the

Harris-Galveston Subsidence District [ subsidence district ], other

local governments, and other agencies of the United States and this

state.

SECTION 8. Section 8888.166(b), Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The authority may expedite the financing and

construction of a surface water delivery system, or other projects

of the authority, to accomplish a conversion from reliance on

groundwater to reliance on surface water not later than [ the

earlier of:

[ (1) the date required by the subsidence district; or

[ (2) ] the date determined by the board to be in the

interest of the authority or one or more districts inside or outside

the authority.

SECTION 9. The following provisions of the Special District

Local Laws Code are repealed:

(1) Section 8888.001(12);

(2) Section 8888.005(b);

(3) Section 8888.156(c);

(4) Section 8888.157(c);

(5) Section 8888.165(b); and

(6) Section 8888.201.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.