Latest news with #HouseBill2114
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.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
East Texas reps file bills to oppose Marvin Nichols Reservoir
AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) – State Rep. Cole Hefner of Mount Pleasant and State Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston have both filed bills in opposition of the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir. East Texans push back against reservoir that threatens their homes 'Private property is a sacred right in America. This should especially be true in our great stateof Texas. And yet, our people face a continued threat from big cities who wish to take away their land for the benefit of strangers to our communities,' a press release from Hefner's office said. 'That is what the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir project is all about: taking thousands of acres from Northeast Texans to solve the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex's water problems.' Hefner's House Bill 2109 would require Texas's water development board to remove a proposed reservoir from the State Water Plan if it doesn't start construction within 50 years of it first being included in the plan. VanDeaver's House Bill 2114 prevents engineering firms from working on constructing reservoirs if they were involved in the preparation of a state or regional water plan. 'I am grateful to Rep. VanDeaver for his outstanding leadership on this critical issue and look forward to working with him to protect our property rights. Generations of East Texas families have lived and died on these lands, and it is their right to allow their heirs to do the same. These lands are their heritage,' said Hefner. 'DFW must find another solution to its water woes without depriving our people of their land.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
