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Committee narrows irrigation-district bill to Grand Prairie districts and adopts amendment
Summary
An amendment to Senate Bill 253 narrowed its scope to irrigation districts (primarily in the Grand Prairie), clarified that potable-water systems are not covered, and allowed landowners inside districts to serve on boards; committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill.
The committee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 253 that sponsors said narrows the bill to irrigation districts (largely in the Grand Prairie) and removes language that might have captured other water systems.
The sponsor told the committee the amendment focuses the bill on irrigation districts and allows a landowner within an irrigation district to serve on its board, and gives districts flexibility to reduce board size where needed to maintain viable governance.
Senators asked whether out-of-state landowners could qualify and why the bill would permit boards as small as three members; the sponsor said the bill does not explicitly address out-of-state ownership but aims to ensure board members are actively engaged in agriculture and to provide flexibility when recruitment is difficult.
The amendment was adopted by voice vote and the bill then moved forward from the committee with the narrower scope.
