Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Neutral |
Relating to the powers and duties of the West Harris County
Regional Water Authority.
SB 1459, if passed, would modify the rules governing the
West Harris County Regional Water Authority. Specifically, the bill would not
allow the authority to annex or add territory which is within the boundaries of
both another regional water district and a subsidence district. The bill also
notes that the authority is not to be considered a special water authority
under Chapter 49 of the Water Code. SB 1459 also removes the requirement that
the authority share its infrastructure capital costs process with every
municipal water district. If passed, the authority could still undertake this
official process but now at its discretion.
SB 1459 is a combination of a minor positive development and
a minor negative development. Restricting the expansion of the district in
question if there is an overlap of boundaries would be a positive and
prudential change. On the other hand, making the disclosure of the capital
costs process to municipal utility districts optional is a minor setback to
government transparency, though a setback nonetheless. Because of this conflict
we are neutral on SB 1459.