Bill > SB1611

This bill modifies the fee assessment rules for the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District by updating terminology and clarifying fee structures. Specifically, the bill replaces the term "regulatory pumping" with "production" fees and explicitly authorizes the district to assess both production fees (under Water Code Section 36.205(c)) and export fees (under Water Code Section 36.122). The bill maintains existing fee limitations, including that agricultural water production fees cannot exceed 20 percent of municipal water use fees, and sets maximum fee rates of $1 per acre-foot for agricultural crop irrigation and 17 cents per thousand gallons for other water uses. Additionally, the bill ratifies any mitigation payments and fees assessed before the bill's effective date and includes a provision for immediate implementation if it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature, otherwise taking effect on September 1, 2025. These changes provide clearer guidelines for fee assessment while preserving protections for agricultural water users.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1611