Bill > HB1532

This bill creates the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, a special purpose conservation and reclamation district in Harris County focused on performing dredging and maintenance operations in specific water bodies, including Lake Houston, the San Jacinto River forks, Luce Bayou, and Caney Creek. The district will be governed by a five-member board appointed by the City of Houston and Harris County Flood Control District, with directors serving staggered four-year terms. The district has specific powers to conduct dredging and maintenance operations, including removing sediment and debris, and can form voluntary interlocal agreements with other entities. Importantly, the district is prohibited from imposing taxes or fees, cannot exercise eminent domain, and cannot develop recreational facilities. The district can seek grants and may issue revenue bonds to fund its operations, with potential state funding limited to $25 million annually until September 1, 2027. The bill mandates that all dredging operations must be approved by Houston Public Works and cannot negatively impact water quality or water treatment processes. The district is designed to help manage and improve water flow and sediment removal in the specified service area without duplicating the functions of existing conservation districts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1532