Bill
HB 3166
85(R) - 2017
House Natural Resources
House Natural Resources
Groundwater Conservation Districts
Special Districts
Water
Vote Recommendation
No
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Neutral
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Negative
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Neutral
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Negative
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Neutral
Author(s)
Eddie Lucio III
Bill Caption
Relating to the consideration of modeled sustainable groundwater pumping in the adoption of desired future conditions in groundwater conservation districts.
Fiscal Notes
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
Under current law, groundwater conservation districts adopt desired future conditions. HB 3166 would require desired future conditions to incorporate the maximum sustainable groundwater pumping, which is a scientific determination of the groundwater that may be produced in perpetuity from an aquifer on an annual basis.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill infringes on the principles of limited government and property rights by requiring the incorporation of vague standards into desired future conditions. Because this would open the door for unchecked regulation of groundwater pumping, we oppose HB 3166.
Organizations Supporting
City of Corpus Christi
Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District
League of Independent Voters of Texas
National Wildlife Federation
Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District
San Antonio Water System
Texas Water Conservation Association
Texas Wildlife Association
The Nature Conservancy
The Sierra Club