Latest news with #HouseJointResolution7
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Greg Abbott Launches $20 Billion Texas Water Plan
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed two major bills into law on June 18, launching a landmark $20 billion investment aimed at tackling Texas' growing water shortages. Final funding approval for part of the plan will require voter consent in a November statewide ballot. Newsweek contacted Abbott for comment on Thursday via email outside regular office hours. Texas faces mounting water challenges driven by rapid population growth, frequent droughts and rising demands from agriculture and industry. Leaking infrastructure and dwindling supplies threaten quality of life and economic growth. Abbott's plan aims to secure the state's water future while addressing ongoing environmental concerns. Texas suffered from severe drought in the summer of 2023, with only 11 percent of the Lone Star State drought free, according to the U.S. Drought Map, though more rainfall improved the situation in 2024. In September 2024, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the state loses "about a farm a week" because of water shortages. Details of the Water Investment The bills signed by Abbott-Senate Bill 7 (SB 7) and House Joint Resolution 7 (HJR 7)-target repairing aging water systems and investing in new supply sources. Half of the $20 billion allocation is earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and the other half will support projects such as pipelines and desalination. Voter Approval and Immediate Funding The plan requires voter approval of HJR 7 in November to dedicate $1 billion a year from state sales tax revenue, beginning in 2027. However, the $2.5 billion allocation for the Texas Water Fund is secured regardless of the November ballot result. The Texas Water Development Board will oversee project selection and funding distribution as the state shifts to a coordinated, regional strategy for water management. Texas Water Context Water scarcity is a recurring crisis in Texas. Years of drought, persistent population increases and intensified industrial use have stretched existing systems, forcing some cities to consider restricting development. The state also faces a backlog of expensive infrastructure repairs, with Houston alone reporting a $4.93 billion need because of leaking pipes according to city officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott: "We lose about 88 billion gallons of water a year because of broken, busted, and aged pipes." State Senator Charles Perry: The new law represents "a cultural shift from the way we do water in Texas" and moved the focus to coordinated regional strategies. Texas voters will decide on final funding through a constitutional amendment in November. If passed, the initiative will set aside $1 billion annually for water projects, beginning in 2027, with immediate funds supporting urgent infrastructure needs across the state. Related Articles Texas Defunds Border WallGreg Abbott To Sign Texas Property Tax Bill: What To KnowTexas' Largest Newspaper Trashes Greg Abbott Protest Move: 'Expect Better'Texas to Deploy Thousands of National Guard Troops for Anti-Trump Protests 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs historic $20 billion water investment bill, talks state impact
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited Lubbock Wednesday to sign into law the largest generational water investment in state history, addressing a multi-year water crisis and leaving it up to Texans to codify the bill in an election this November. Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7 will allocate $20 billion over a 20-year period to offset water infrastructure and development costs through the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee. Others are reading: Patrick, Perry defend proposed Texas THC ban after smoke shop exploit hemp loophole Authored by State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, the bill comes at a much needed time, he said, as nine cities across the state this year have declined development permits, citing lack of supplies as their reason. "Here's what I know,' said Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican. 'They show up, and they turn on that spigot, the water doesn't come out — those U-Hauls are going to go the absolute opposite direction.' With nearly 1,000 people moving to Texas each day, Abbott said it's important the state's water infrastructure meets the growing population's demand. Story continues after gallery. 'I'll add this: My hometown, Wichita Falls, almost ran out of water a couple of years ago,' Abbott said. 'This is something I got to see occur just a few days away from losing water, and that's where it became a very real understanding. We have communities like that across the state that have this need that has to be addressed.' Perry said irrigated crops in the Panhandle and Rio Grande Valley are the largest areas depleting water resources, and second is municipal use. City water is often pulled from the same sources farmers and ranchers use, Perry said. SB 7 encourages cities to reach a new supply of water further in the ground on the brackish, marine level, creating a more stable water resource for residents and increasing production again for agricultural use. HJR 7, authored by Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, proposes a Texas constitutional amendment that will help fund those long-term water resource projects. While funding has always been available, Executive Director Bobby Bazan with Texas Ground Water Association said funding has never been available in such a large capacity. 'We have an aging infrastructure that is outgrowing its usefulness, timeline, and this money is going to go toward helping improve some of that, making sure, like the governor said, when somebody turns a faucet on, there's going to be water there,' Bazan said. $1 billion will be allocated annually to the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee over the next 20 years, but Perry said he believes the fund will last far longer than its intended time frame. 'What I know about the legislature is if you prove what you said was going to happen, and it's working, and there's support — it'll be another 10 to 20 years.' The law would not fully go into effect unless Texas voters codify it at the polls - OK'ing the proposal in the upcoming November state constitutional amendments election. What does this mean for Lubbock ? Lake 7, located near Buffalo Springs Lake and 50th Street, is one of many projects Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer said SB 7 and HJR 7 will help fund. The proposed lake will be filled with directly reused city water. The water will then go through a treatment plant before it becomes potable water, said Raquel Mullen, customer relations manager with the City of Lubbock. In addition to Lake 7, the bill will help address needs with Lake Meredith and Lake Alan Henry through respective city projects, McBrayer said. 'This bill is going to be very beneficial for Lubbock as well,' McBrayer said. 'We're happy to have it.' McBrayer said he worked with Perry to achieve some of the bill's amendments, such as adding and defining lake-ready projects. 'He took advantage of that, and he saw that need,' McBrayer said of working with Perry. 'He addressed that need in the bill and made some changes, so we're so very happy he worked with us on it.' Perry said just as he met with Lubbock representatives, there was also an effort to meet with all 254 counties in the state to ensure their needs were met. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gov. Abbott signs $20 billion water bill, discusses statewide impact
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisis
Texas lawmakers appear to have reached a deal this week and are on the brink of passing a sweeping plan to invest billions into the state's fragile water infrastructure and future water supply over the next 20 years, ending months of tense, back door negotiations. On Tuesday, the Senate approved House Joint Resolution 7, which will send to voters in November a proposal to allot $1 billion a year — $20 billion in total — until 2047 to secure the state's water supply. That money will be used to fund new water supply projects, such as desalination, repairing old water infrastructure, conservation and flood mitigation projects. Meanwhile, the House gave initial approval to Senate Bill 7, by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, which lays out the administrative framework for funding water projects through the Texas Water Development Board. Lawmakers also agreed to a one-time investment of $2.5 billion into the water fund from House Bill 500, the supplemental budget, which is taken from the current budget surplus. About $880 million of that is already in the fund, so more than $1.6 billion will be deposited. A final, procedural, vote by the House on SB 7 is expected to happen Wednesday. [Water bills face deadline threat as Texas lawmakers negotiate spending priorities] Addressing the state's water crisis has been a big priority for lawmakers and Gov. Greg Abbott this year. Texas is running out of water, and fast. With aging pipes, drought pressure, and population growth squeezing resources, Abbott called water an 'emergency item.' The $20 billion deal is a step forward, but the funding is a fraction of what Texas needs to fully fix the problem. A Texas 2036 report estimated that the state needs nearly $154 billion by 2050 for water infrastructure, including $59 billion for water supply projects, $74 billion for leaky pipes and infrastructure maintenance, and $21 billion to fix broken wastewater systems. The funding also dries up in 2047, and unlike similar constitutional funds, such as those dedicated to transportation, the Legislature cannot extend the tax dedication by resolution. The Legislature, more than two decades from now, will have to amend the state constitution, again — with another two-thirds vote — to keep the money flowing. It will also be put to another state referendum. And as climate change accelerates, urban demand skyrockets, and critical infrastructure ages, this deal may prove to be a down payment. Perry acknowledged the shortfall on the Senate floor, but applauded the initial step. 'This plan is a good start to make that goal,' Perry said. Both bills have changed quite a bit throughout the legislative process. The biggest point of contention was how the annual $1 billion would be spent. The original House plan gave the Texas Water Development Board wide discretion over how to use the money. Waters experts said under that plan, local leaders would have had flexibility to prioritize their community's most pressing needs — whether cleaning salty water to make drinkable or repairing leaky pipes. However, a Senate push led by Perry locked in 80% of the funds for new water supply projects, such as desalination and treating oilfield wastewater. Under that plan, the remaining 20% would be reserved for repairs, conservation, and flood mitigation. The fight over that ratio became the flashpoint of the legislative debate. On Monday, both those proposals were walked back to a 50-50 split by an amendment added to the Senate bill by state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine. During the discussion Monday about the Senate bill, Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, cited a neighborhood in her district with chronic water line failures and old pipes that need repair. She asked if the water bill will help communities like that one with leaking pipes. Harris assured her the bill 'absolutely' addresses that. 'Being able to fix existing failing infrastructure is a major focus of this bill,' he said. The Senate and House need to approve each chamber's amendments, which they're expected to do, before the legislation can be sent to Abbott's desk. Disclosure: Texas 2036 has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Associated Press
03-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Bill that prioritizes creating new water supplies gets Texas Senate OK
The Texas Senate gave unanimous approval to a sweeping water bill Wednesday that would address a range of issues that have caused a looming water crisis in the state. The bill focuses on creating new sources of water supply to meet Texas' growing water needs. Senate Bill 7, filed by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, was the first bill in a highly anticipated package of water-related bills to pass. It includes proposals to address Texas' water supply needs by using funds on strategies such as desalination, projects on produced water treatment plants and reservoir projects. It also creates an office tasked with planning and coordinating the development of infrastructure to transport water — referred to by lawmakers as a 'water tree' — made by a project. During the discussion on the Senate floor, Perry reaffirmed his push toward creating new supplies of water. He said the bill prioritizes new water sources, including brackish and marine water, along with 'shovel-ready' reservoirs and wastewater treatment in rural communities. Perry has acknowledged in the past that the state's water infrastructure needs repairs. However, he did not spend much time discussing that concern Wednesday. Perry said after traveling the state, he believes Texas is 25 years behind on supply development. 'We've developed all the cheap water, and all the low-hanging fruits have been obtained,' Perry said. In addition, Perry stressed that any new water supply plan has to include all of Texas' 254 counties. He also said it has to be a coordinated planning approach across the state that leverages existing water resources to regional expertise. Changes were made in Perry's bill since it was first introduced. The new version of the bill added provisions that would separate the Texas Water Development Board's funding specifically for administrative costs — up to 2% in funding — and carryover of unused funds. While Texas prohibits using state-funded pipelines for intrastate water transfers, the bill clarifies that out-of-state water can be imported through these pipelines. One other change offers protections to sources of freshwater by prohibiting projects that extract water from sources with a certain amount. Perry assured lawmakers they were not funding the depletion of existing freshwater aquifers. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, called the bill visionary and applauded Perry on his work. 'It changes water law, it changes water procurement,' Gutierrez said. Moving forward, the constitutional amendment that will accompany the water bill is House Joint Resolution 7, which will dedicate $1 billion to the Texas Water Fund for up to 10 years. The annual stream of state tax dollars would help cities and local water agencies buy more water and repair aging infrastructure. If approved, Texans can vote on that ballot measure in November. With the state's population booming, data shows the state's water supply is falling behind. According to the state's 2022 water plan, water availability is expected to decline by 18%, with groundwater seeing the steepest drop. A Texas Tribune analysis found that cities and towns could be on a path toward a severe water shortage by 2030 if there is recurring, record-breaking drought conditions across the state, and if water entities and state leaders fail to put in place key strategies to secure water supplies. Water experts and organizations celebrated the passage of SB 7. Jennifer Walker, director of the Texas Coast and Water Program for the National Wildlife Federation, said it's a step in ensuring Texans have reliable and resilient water supplies. Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, said he is grateful for Perry's work on the bill. '(I look) forward to reconciling the House and Senate approaches to accomplish the best collaborative water policy for Texas to secure our shared water future,' Fowler said. Jeremy Mazur, director of infrastructure and natural resources policy for Texas 2036, said the unanimous passage of SB 7 is a good sign the chamber wants to move forward with a bold strategy to address infrastructure challenges. However, he said there is still more work for the Legislature to do. 'Even though SB 7 has passed, there are several other big measures in the legislative pipeline that need to be addressed, including the constitutional dedication of state revenues for water infrastructure,' Mazur said. Perry said the water development board will still have to establish rules for what kind of projects get prioritized for funding. The House will now take up SB 7 for debate. Perry's Senate Resolution has been referred to a Senate committee on finance but has not been heard yet. A similar House bill, led by state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, is still pending. Harris' HJR 7 was passed unanimously out of committee and is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From desalination to water treatment: Bill that prioritizes creating new water supplies get Texas Senate OK
The Texas Senate gave unanimous approval to a sweeping water bill Wednesday that would address a range of issues that have caused a looming water crisis in the state. The bill focuses on creating new sources of water supply to meet Texas' growing water needs. Senate Bill 7, filed by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, was the first bill in a highly anticipated package of water-related bills to pass. It includes proposals to address Texas' water supply needs by using funds on strategies such as desalination, projects on produced water treatment plants and reservoir projects. It also creates an office tasked with planning and coordinating the development of infrastructure to transport water — referred to by lawmakers as a 'water tree' — made by a project. During the discussion on the Senate floor, Perry reaffirmed his push toward creating new supplies of water. He said the bill prioritizes new water sources, including brackish and marine water, along with 'shovel-ready' reservoirs and wastewater treatment in rural communities. Perry has acknowledged in the past that the state's water infrastructure needs repairs. However, he did not spend much time discussing that concern Wednesday. Perry said after traveling the state, he believes Texas is 25 years behind on supply development. 'We've developed all the cheap water, and all the low-hanging fruits have been obtained,' Perry said. In addition, Perry stressed that any new water supply plan has to include all of Texas' 254 counties. He also said it has to be a coordinated planning approach across the state that leverages existing water resources to regional expertise. Changes were made in Perry's bill since it was first introduced. The new version of the bill added provisions that would separate the Texas Water Development Board's funding specifically for administrative costs — up to 2% in funding — and carryover of unused funds. While Texas prohibits using state-funded pipelines for intrastate water transfers, the bill clarifies that out-of-state water can be imported through these pipelines. One other change offers protections to sources of freshwater by prohibiting projects that extract water from sources with a certain amount. Perry assured lawmakers they were not funding the depletion of existing freshwater aquifers. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, called the bill visionary and applauded Perry on his work. 'It changes water law, it changes water procurement,' Gutierrez said. Moving forward, the constitutional amendment that will accompany the water bill is House Joint Resolution 7, which will dedicate $1 billion to the Texas Water Fund for up to 10 years. The annual stream of state tax dollars would help cities and local water agencies buy more water and repair aging infrastructure. If approved, Texans can vote on that ballot measure in November. With the state's population booming, data shows the state's water supply is falling behind. According to the state's 2022 water plan, water availability is expected to decline by 18%, with groundwater seeing the steepest drop. A Texas Tribune analysis found that cities and towns could be on a path toward a severe water shortage by 2030 if there is recurring, record-breaking drought conditions across the state, and if water entities and state leaders fail to put in place key strategies to secure water supplies. Water experts and organizations celebrated the passage of SB 7. Jennifer Walker, director of the Texas Coast and Water Program for the National Wildlife Federation, said it's a step in ensuring Texans have reliable and resilient water supplies. Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, said he is grateful for Perry's work on the bill. '[I look] forward to reconciling the House and Senate approaches to accomplish the best collaborative water policy for Texas to secure our shared water future,' Fowler said. Jeremy Mazur, director of infrastructure and natural resources policy for Texas 2036, said the unanimous passage of SB 7 is a good sign the chamber wants to move forward with a bold strategy to address infrastructure challenges. However, he said there is still more work for the Legislature to do. 'Even though SB 7 has passed, there are several other big measures in the legislative pipeline that need to be addressed, including the constitutional dedication of state revenues for water infrastructure," Mazur said. Perry said the water development board will still have to establish rules for what kind of projects get prioritized for funding. The House will now take up SB 7 for debate. Perry's Senate Resolution has been referred to a Senate committee on finance but has not been heard yet. A similar House bill, led by state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, is still pending. Harris' HJR 7 was passed unanimously out of committee and is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing. Disclosure: Texas 2036 has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
