Latest news with #HouseBill2109
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to stop Marvin Nichols Reservoir dies in Calendars Committee
TYLER, Texas (KETK)– The Calendars Committee did not advance House Bill 2109 to be heard on the House floor. Rep. Moran speaks on the 'Big Beautiful Bill' aimed at cutting $1.5 trillion from spending The 57-year-old bill would have ended the Marvin Nichols project to flood tens of thousands of East Texas land to supply water to the DFW metroplex. 'What the calendar committee did, was take a piece of my soul,' Red River County resident, Susan Conway said. Rep. Shofner bill requiring average class grade on transcripts passes Texas House East Texans have strong emotions about HB- 2109 being one hurdle away from a House floor hearing. 'They stalled it out right there. It's kind of what I expected them to do. They played politics,' Red River County resident, Casey Conway said. Many East Texans said they called all 11 Calendars Committee members and went to the capitol to please their case even as the clock was running out. 'One of the most disastrous sessions that I have ever witnessed. It's been very interesting, to say the least and which I am a Republican,' Cass County resident, Paul Hale said. They all agree after nearly six decades on the front lines that they will not stop fighting. 'I don't know anybody that has generational land or for that matter, your home that it's not worth fighting for. I mean, this is my home. This is this is my family. This is my roots. It holds my heritage. It I mean, it holds everything,' Susan Conway said. In the next legislative session, they are hoping another bill will be introduced to finally put a stop to the reservoir, once and for all. The Texas Water Board is still allowing anyone to submit their comments regarding the Reservoir. The deadline is June 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stop Marvin Nichols Reservoir bill passes committee, but still needs another push
AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) – House Bill 2109, which aims to stop the Marvin Nichols Reservoir, has passed through committee but still needs to be heard on the Texas State House floor to be voted on. Selling East Texas Water: Reps file bill to stop Marvin Nichols Reservoir East Texas supporters of the bill are encouraging everyone to call members of the Texas State House Calendar Committee to put HB 2109 on the schedule to be heard. Organizers said it is a bipartisan issue that affects everyone. HB 2109 passed out of the Natural Resources Committee on April 23 but the Calendar Committee has decide when to allow it to be heard by May 15. 'Anytime you can keep it at the forefront of members minds it helps, because there's so many things coming at us from different directions,' State Rep. Cole Hefner said. The 57-year-old plan could flood up to 200,000 acres of land, leaving homes and schools to be moved. The possibility of the project coming to fruition has paralyzed hardworking East Texans like Casey Conway. East Texans push back against reservoir that threatens their homes 'I'm raising cattle and you always need a new hay barn or maybe you need to put in a new fence or whatever. You can't justify putting that money into the place when this is over your head everyday day. You don't know day to day, if that's the day you're going to lose it,' Conway said. The last day for House bills to be considered on the floor is May 16 at midnight, but Conway fears it will not be chosen. 'My fear is that they're playing too much politics and they'll let the clock run out,' Conway said. Hefner said there is not a lot of time left, but there is enough time for the bill to be pushed and heard on the floor. State Rep. Jay Dean hosts 'Let's Save Our Lakes' town hall 'Some days you'll have a bill that takes up a lot of time. Sometimes a bill might take up an hour, it may take 2 or 3 hours, but a lot of bills just take a few minutes,' Hefner said. Conway said this bill is a priority and affects his family and generations to come. 'Our kids can't even come back and live on the family land because we don't want them investing that kind of money into something that they could lose like that,' Conway said. If the bill passes the House, it'll have to be voted on in the Texas Senate for the final time by May 28 before the 89th session comes to an end on June 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas lawmakers approve six new laws Monday
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas lawmakers have successfully passed six new laws for the state on Monday. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced in a press release on April 7 that she has signed six new laws for the Sunflower State. A full list of bills approved by the governor can be found below: House Bill 2107 – provides for a process for state residents to recover economic damages from wildfires and other fire-related events caused by electric public utilities. House Bill 2120 – authorizes the Kansas State Board of Regents to sell and convey certain real property in Riley County, Kansas and Douglas County, Nebraska on behalf of Kansas State University and Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Center. House Bill 2109 – exempts public utilities from civil liability to the attachment, access, operation, maintenance or removal of law enforcement equipment on any utility pole or other structure that is owned or operated by the public utility. House Bill 2052 – streamlines the process for an individual with a provisional concealed carry license to request a standard license and addresses requirements that specifically identify off duty law enforcement officers that are conceal carrying. House Bill 2040 – extends the time in which the State Corporation Commission shall make a final order on a transmission line siting application. House Bill 2037 – updates the membership of the Council on Travel and Tourism and modernizes grant requirements to allow the council to award funding to the most feasible projects in the application process. 'Kansas is no stranger to the risks and impacts of wildfires,' Kelly said when speaking about House Bill 2107. 'The changes included in this bill will help better prepare utility companies to identify and mitigate wildfire risks. By taking reasonable measures, we can better protect Kansans and provide a path to recover from the financial impacts of wildfires.' Lawmakers approve change to the Kansas Constitution over voting rights For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Selling East Texas Water: Reps file bill to stop Marvin Nichols Reservoir
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Texas is seeing growth all over the Lone Star State, but finding sources of water to serve everyone remains an issue. East Texans push back against reservoir that threatens their homes 'There's no doubt we have a water problem in Texas,' Texas House District 1 Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston said. In 1968, a water plan was created the State of Texas which called for the construction of the Marvin Nichols Reservoir. It spans six East Texas counties and would supply water to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, not East Texas. 'The reservoir itself is, depending on which version it is, at 60, 70, 80,000 acres of land, with mitigation, it could be as much as 200,000 acres of land,' VanDeaver said. VanDeaver and House District 5 Rep. Cole Hefner represent most of the counties affected by the project and have heard the public's concerns. They've filed House Bill 2109 in order to put a stop to the plan. 'If a project has been in the state Water Development Board's long-range plan for more than 50 years and has construction has not started on it, then it has to be pulled out,' VanDeaver said. 'So this would, in effect, stop the Marvin Nichols project altogether,' Hefner said. East Texas reps file bills to oppose Marvin Nichols Reservoir A decades-long fight for some East Texans only just begins for others. The North Texas Municipal Water District which supplies water to people just outside of Dallas confirmed in a statement that they have entered discussions to buy water from Lake O' the Pines. A decision East Texas cities will have to make. 'The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) confirms that we are in discussion with Northeast Texas Municipal Water District regarding a potential water sale from Lake O' The Pines. Both parties are committed to maintaining transparency and fairness throughout this process. At this time, the contract negotiations are ongoing, which limits the details we can share publicly. Following the conclusion of contract negotiations, there will be an opportunity for public discussion before any formal contract is approved. NTMWD remains committed to protecting the quality and sustainability of Lake O' the Pines and Caddo Lake. As proven environmental stewards, we are focused on safeguarding these vital water resources.' North Texas Municipal Water District Five of the seven cities that funded the lake will have to vote yes, but negotiations are still at an early stage. 'We've had some very, I think, informative meetings on Lake O' the Pines,' VanDeaver said. In both projects, lawmakers are insisting on a commitment to make sure East Texas water remains here at home. 'We hear you and we're fighting for you,' Hefner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas House bill could bring the end of Marvin Nichols Reservoir plan
AUSTIN, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – Texas State Representative Gary VanDeaver has filed two bills that could put an end to plans to kick residents off land in east Texas for the Marvin Nichols Reservoir project, which would provide water for the Dallas metro area. 'It's been, you know, very clear to me that this is an issue that needs to be addressed,' said District 1 Rep. Gary VanDeaver. House Bill 2109 would make it so that if a project has been part of a Texas Water Development board water plan for more than 50 years without starting construction, it would need to be removed. 'And of course, Marvin Nichols has been on the books, I believe since 1968, so well over 50 years.' said State Rep. VanDeaver, 'The thought behind that is if you identified it 50 years ago and you haven't needed it yet, then chances are, you know, you're not going to.' Homes and dreams of E. Texas residents could end up underwater VanDeaver wants to prevent Texas landowners from staying in limbo for decades like those living at the proposed reservoir site. 'There's an entire generation of landowners in Red River, Bowie County, you know, where this project is proposed, that, you know, they're afraid to build a home. They're afraid to build a barn or a permanent fence on their property. And it's time to set them free,' said State Rep. VanDeaver. House Bill 2114 was filed alongside that bill, and it would try to prevent conflicts of interest. 'Basically saying that if an engineering firm has been involved in helping the Texas Water Development Board identify projects to move forward, then that firm cannot be the firm that gets to build the project,' said State Rep. VanDeaver. Helping to ensure that projects are not being kept on water plans for reasons other than serving the water needs of Texans. 'What we see sometimes are these engineering firms that are heavily involved in the planning stages, and justifying a project to the Texas Water Development Board to get it in the plan. And then they come along and do the engineering work for the project and make millions and then hundreds of millions and in some cases billions of dollars on these projects,' said State Rep. VanDeaver. VanDeaver hopes his colleagues representing other rural districts will see the existential threat that projects like the Marvin Nichols Reservoir pose and support the bills. 'It doesn't matter whether they're in Red River County or any other county in the state of Texas. I want to do what's right for Texans, and we value private property ownership. And in Texas, We should not be in fear that at some point, they're going to come in, someone's going to come in and take my property.' said State Rep. VanDeaver, 'We're highly concerned and always attentive to attempts to take private property because we just see eminent domain misused many times.' District 5 State Rep. Cole Hefner coauthors the bills. VanDeaver says he will work hard to get a hearing on these bills once the house committees are set up. That way, the passionate Texans affected by the reservoir can go to Austin and tell their story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
