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Senate water committee advances a package of water-related bills to the full Senate
Summary
The committee reported several bills favorably to the full Senate, including codifying a San Antonio River Authority law, limiting municipal rate increases for tax-exempt entities, easing title requirements for vintage outboard motors, and clarifying compensation for decertified retail water utilities.
The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs reported a set of water- and resource-related bills favorably to the full Senate during its session.
The committee passed House Bill 26,92 to codify unique enabling legislation for the San Antonio River Authority; staff gave brief explanation and a Deputy Director of the authority testified in support. House Bill 6 30, which would exempt outboard motors at least 40 years old and under 25 horsepower from certificate-of-title requirements, was passed out favorably. House Bill 6 85, which would prohibit municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to entities that qualify for sales-tax or ad valorem exemptions, was reported favorably. House Bill 13 18 was reported favorably; that bill clarifies that a retail water utility is entitled to adequate compensation when a municipality decertifies an area after annexation and the utility's assets are adversely affected.
Other measures advanced included House Bill 16 33, which concerns criteria groundwater conservation districts consider before granting or amending permits, and several pending bills were moved to the floor and recommended for local and contested calendars. Committee roll calls on multiple bills recorded unanimous or near-unanimous support; for example, HB 6 30, HB 6 85, HB 13 18 and HB 26 92 were advanced with recorded committee tallies of seven ayes and no nays in the recorded roll calls.
The chair said the panel would finish pending business and move several bills to the floor to avoid desk votes. Members indicated continuing work with stakeholders on some bills that had technical concerns. The committee recessed following the votes.
