Bill: HB 1472, 84(R) - 2015
Committee
House Land & Resource Management
Vote Recommendation
Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Paul Workman
Bill Caption
Relating to the enforcement of requirements for the issuance of local permits by regulatory agencies of political subdivisions.
Bill Analysis
HB 1472 would amend the Local
Government Code would allow the attorney general to bring action to enforce statutory provisions governing the issuance of
local permits relating to a water or wastewater utility owned, operated, or
controlled by a regulatory agency or other authorizations required to be
obtained for certain actions on a project. The bill would make a political subdivision liable for actual damages
and reasonable attorney's fees if it is found in a civil action that the
political subdivision has violated such provisions.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill seeks to reconcile differences between local and state laws related to water or wastewater permits. While state law does supersede local law, as it should on this issue, it remains unclear whether the enforcement mechanism provided in the bill is the best way to handle the present situation. We remain neutral on HB 1472.