The Wise Report
This legislative session is now closed. The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been sent to the Governor for his signature. Seven were signed by the Governor, two were vetoed, and one was filed without the signature of the Governor.
HB 30, by Larson and Vilalba, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 6/19/2015 Signed by the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30
HB 163, by Larson and Workman, Relating to interstate cooperation to address regional water issues. Sets up the Southwest Water Commission to discuss water needs of the region with other states and Mexico. 6/15/2015 Signed by the Governor, effective 9/1/2015. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB163
HB 281, by Simmons, Duplicate of HB 3412, Identical to SB 878, Relating to a limitation on the expansion of certain landfills. This is for Type I municipal solid waste landfills that are located in a municipality in a county with a population of more than 600,000 persons and not more than 500 feet from another municipality. 6/18/2015 Filed without the Govern’s signature, effective immediately. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB281
HB 655, by Larson, Identical to SB 1724 and SB 1903, Relating to the storage and recovery of water in aquifers; authorizing fees and surcharges. 6/16/2015 Signed by the Governor, effective immediately. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB655
HB 930, by Miller and Doug, Relating to water well drillers and pump installers; authorizing fees. Copies of well logs must also be sent to the local groundwater conservation district. 5/30/2015 Sent to the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB930
HB 1232, by Luciio III, Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board regarding the mapping of groundwater in confined and unconfined aquifers. 5/28/2015 Signed by the Governor, effective immediately. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB1232
HB 2230, by Larson, Lucio III, and Fallon, Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize an injection well used for oil and gas waste disposal to be used for the disposal of nonhazardous brine produced by a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals. 6/1/2015 Signed by the Governor, effective on 9/1/2015. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB2230
HB 2647, by Ashby, Larson, Paddie, Clardy, and Lucio III, Identical to SB 1122, Relating to a limitation on the authority to curtail groundwater production from wells used for power generation or mining. 6/20/2015 Vetoed by the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB2647
HB 4112, by Burns and Cyrier, Relating to the rights of an owner of groundwater. 6/16/2015 Signed by the Governor, effective immediately. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB4112
SB 854, by Zaffirini, Similar to HB 1248, Identical to HB 1856, Relating to the renewal or amendment of certain permits issued by groundwater conservation districts. 6/1/2015 Signed by the Governor, effective 9/1/2015. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=SB854.