Gerdes Groundwater Fee Bill Also Blesses Past Mitigation Payments

The text as introduced · 274 words

89R13392 JBD-F

By: Gerdes
H.B. No. 3433

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to fees assessed by the Lost Pines Groundwater

Conservation District.

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

SECTION 1. Section 8849.151, Special District Local Laws

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 8849.151. [ PUMPING ] FEES. (a) The district may

assess production [ regulatory pumping ] fees under Section

36.205(c), Water Code, and export fees under Section 36.122, Water

Code [ for water produced in or exported from the district ].

(b) The production [ regulatory pumping ] fees the district

assesses for water for crop or livestock production or other

agricultural uses may not exceed 20 percent of the rate applied to

water for municipal uses.

(c) Production [ Regulatory pumping ] fees [ based on the

amount of water withdrawn from a well ] may not exceed:

(1) $1 for each acre-foot for water used to irrigate

agricultural crops; or

(2) 17 cents for each thousand gallons for water used

for any other purpose.

[ (d) Combined regulatory pumping fees for production and

export of water may not exceed 17 cents for each thousand gallons

for water used. ]

SECTION 2. Mitigation payments and fees assessed before the

effective date of this Act are ratified, confirmed, and validated

in all respects.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.