Bill Text: TX HB2225 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Comm Sub
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Bill Title: Relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife Department regarding the Texas Water Trust.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB2225 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2225-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife Department regarding the Texas Water Trust.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB2225 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2225-Comm_Sub.html
By: King of Uvalde, Guillen, Zwiener | H.B. No. 2225 | |
(Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) | ||
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2021; | ||
April 19, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Water, | ||
Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2021, reported favorably by | ||
the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2021, sent to | ||
printer.) | ||
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relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife | ||
Department regarding the Texas Water Trust. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife | ||
Code, is amended by adding Section 12.028 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 12.028. POWERS AND DUTIES REGARDING TEXAS WATER TRUST. | ||
(a) In this section, "Texas Water Trust" means the trust | ||
established under Section 15.7031, Water Code. | ||
(b) Consistent with Section 11.0235(b), Water Code, and the | ||
department's duties and responsibilities, the department shall | ||
encourage and facilitate the dedication of water rights in the | ||
Texas Water Trust through lease, donation, purchase, or other means | ||
of voluntary transfer for environmental needs, including for the | ||
purpose of maintaining or improving: | ||
(1) instream flows; | ||
(2) water quality; | ||
(3) fish and wildlife habitat; and | ||
(4) bay and estuary inflows. | ||
(c) The department may manage rights in the Texas Water | ||
Trust in a manner that is consistent with: | ||
(1) the manner in which a holder of the rights may | ||
manage the rights; | ||
(2) the dedication of the rights, including the | ||
dedication's terms and conditions; | ||
(3) Sections 11.0237, 11.027, and 11.122, Water Code; | ||
and | ||
(4) maximizing environmental benefits. | ||
(d) This section may not be construed to authorize the | ||
department to exercise any authority expressly granted to the Texas | ||
Water Development Board or the Texas Commission on Environmental | ||
Quality under Subchapter K, Chapter 15, Water Code. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 15.7031, Water Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: | ||
(e) The Parks and Wildlife Department may manage rights in | ||
the trust: | ||
(1) under a voluntary agreement with a rights holder; | ||
and | ||
(2) in the manner described by Section 12.028(c), | ||
Parks and Wildlife Code. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
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