House Bill 16 89 would expand Groundwater Conservation Districtsauthority to use export fees to address real-world impacts from groundwater development. Sponsor testimony said the bill would permit districts to support well operability, alternative water supplies, aquifer monitoring and to enter interlocal agreements to serve users impacted by export pumping, even when impacts cross district boundaries.

Ted Boriak, vice president of the Water Protection Association of Gonzales County, testified in strong support and said mitigation in his district currently does not fully cover municipal or irrigator needs. "The mitigation plan currently in Gonzales County by the...conservation district...doesn't even cover municipal supply wells," Boriak said, urging support so locally affected users can be served when water is pumped across jurisdictional lines.

Senators discussed how county boundaries do not align with aquifer flow and the need for districts to collaborate where pumping in one jurisdiction affects wells in another. The sponsor told the committee the bill would remove statutory uncertainty about interlocal agreements in Chapter 36 of the Water Code for the use of export fees and enable GCDs to work together to serve users who experience water loss.

The committee adopted the measure and reported HB 16 89 favorably to the full Senate by roll call. The committee recommended the bill for the local, noncontested calendar; the roll call showed 8 ayes and no nays.

Next steps: HB 16 89 has been reported out of committee and will proceed to full Senate consideration.