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Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Water bills face deadline threat as Texas lawmakers negotiate spending priorities
Texas is running out of water. And Texas lawmakers are running out of time to solve the problem. With just days left until the legislative session ends, two key pieces of legislation await key votes in the state House and Senate. The two pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7, are supposed to work together to spend billions of dollars to save the state's water supply. Despite Gov. Greg Abbott declaring water an emergency item at the start of the legislative session, which means the bills can be fast-tracked, lawmakers, water agencies, and advocacy groups have reached an impasse on how to spend the money. 'This is a priority for leadership. It is going to have to be negotiated,' said Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network. 'This is big, important policy. It is not easy stuff. You end up getting some bumps and bruises.' 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. If the bills are approved — and voters agree in the fall —the state will spend about $10 billion over the next decade. The Senate bill would create the administrative framework for how water projects would be funded under the Texas Water Development Board. It also establishes two new oversight bodies: the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee and the Office of Water Supply Conveyance Coordination. Recent changes to the bill have expanded its scope to include programs like the Flood Infrastructure Fund, the Economically Distressed Areas Program, and the Agricultural Water Conservation Fund. The Senate bill, sponsored by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, passed the upper chamber and is now in the House. A floor debate by the full chamber could happen as soon as May 23. The final deadline for the House to give preliminary approval to Senate bills is May 27. The House resolution, sponsored by state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, is where the real tension lies. The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would dedicate up to $1 billion per year to the Texas Water Fund for the next decade — money that would allow local governments and water providers to build supply and fix aging systems. The resolution passed the House and was referred to a Senate committee. Perry proposed changes to the resolution that spell out how the money is to be spent. Water policy experts, lobbyists, and environmental groups have raised concerns about the rigid funding formula. Sarah Kirkle, policy director at the Texas Water Conservation Association, said the allocation formula remains the main hurdle between the two chambers. 'The biggest conversations between the House and Senate will be focused on how much of the dedicated funding goes to new supply projects versus a wider range of project types, that includes other water supply projects, wastewater projects, potentially flood projects, and all of our infrastructure repair and replacement projects,' she said. Originally, the House proposal gave the water board broad discretion over how to spend the money. The options can broadly be divided into two categories. New water supply: desalinating brackish groundwater and marine water to make it drinkable, 'shovel-ready' reservoirs and constructing pipelines to transport water across the state. The other, leaky pipes: repairing the state's old and deteriorating water infrastructure. The Senate amendment now mandates that 80% of the money goes to new water supply projects, such as desalination, while only 20% would be reserved for repairs, conservation, and flood mitigation. This split has become the flashpoint of the legislative debate. At the hearing, Perry strongly advocated for what he calls a 'long-term water supply' plan that prioritizes new water supply projects over infrastructure repairs. He defended the split, saying that fixing every leak in that state would not be enough water recovered to solve the state's future supply challenges. Perry said that if the split doesn't favor water supply, big cities will take all the funding and 'the state would have missed an opportunity with the limited funds available to actually address a supply need that is critical to continue the Texas Miracle for decades to come.' He argued that with this plan he is protecting all interests in the state's 254 counties and guaranteeing rural areas will benefit and not get left behind. 'That's why I'm heavily weighted on supply,' he said. Many argue that the prescriptive split undermines local flexibility and shifts too much attention toward new water supply projects, desalination and pipelines, at the expense of urgently needed repairs to infrastructure or flooding mitigation. Fowler said the state's top three leaders – Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows — are aligned with having no split and letting the water board determine what is best. He added that there will need to be a 'reasonable compromise with Sen. Perry to keep [legislation] moving forward.' Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott's spokesman, didn't say if the governor had a preference on how the money is spent. However, Mahaleris said the governor wants to make 'the largest investment in water in Texas history' so the state can do both. The state 'must also invest in new water supply strategies that develop resources like desalination facilities and transportation infrastructure and ensure rural Texas communities have the resources to maintain existing water systems,' Mahaleris said. He assured that the governor will continue to work with Perry and Harris on the legislation. Burrows also did not comment on the split. 'By providing the resources and funding for critical water supply infrastructure projects, the state is taking a proactive approach to keeping up with population growth and ensuring Texas communities are able to have their water needs met,' he said in a statement. 'I look forward to a thoughtful debate when Senate Bill 7 comes to the House floor later this week,' he said. Patrick's office did not return a request for comment. Jennifer Walker, director for the Texas Coast and Water program with the National Wildlife Federation, said she thinks the split will change. 'I don't think it's gonna be 80/20… I would prefer no split,' Walker said. 'I don't think that's realistic. But we have to reject this false narrative that only projects labeled as 'new supply' can secure our water future.' Walker and other water experts said negotiations over the split are ongoing. 'It's gotten real quiet,' she said. 'It does make me nervous. Time is running out.' Despite the debate, most of the organizations supporting the bills believe the proposals will ultimately pass. 'Water has been a key priority for much of state leadership this session. I have a lot of faith that they're going to be able to advance both pieces of legislation,' Kirkle said. The Senate committee must advance the House bill before May 24. 'I can't imagine anyone being okay with this falling apart,' Fowler said. 'It needs to get resolved.' If both chambers pass their respective versions, the bills will move to a conference committee, where the most contentious decisions will be made out of public view, behind the scenes. There lawmakers will need to reconcile their differences. If they do, the decision will ultimately fall to Texas voters, who will decide in November whether to approve the new constitutional amendment. Disclosure: Texas 2036 and Conservation Fund have been financial supporters 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. 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Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Texas House wants voters to approve billions to save the state's water supply
LUBBOCK — The Texas House on Tuesday approved a key piece of legislation that brings Texas one step closer to investing $1 billion annually to address the state's water shortage. House Joint Resolution 7, led by state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, was overwhelmingly approved by the lower chamber, 138-6. Tuesday's vote sets the proposal on a path to voters. If the Senate also approves it, voters will be asked in November to approve the spending, which comes from the state's sales tax. The Senate has a similar proposal, asking voters for dedicated funding. However, it spells out how the money is to be used. Written by state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, Senate Joint Resolution 66 calls for 80% of the $1 billion to go toward projects that create new water supply, such as desalination or produced water treatment plants. The remaining 20% would be split among several programs that address other needs, including infrastructure upgrades for aging pipes, drinking water and wastewater treatment plants. Harris' House resolution does not specify how the billions should be spent. The Texas Water Development Board, the state agency that helps manage the state's water, would determine how the money is allocated. Harris told lawmakers the Legislature will work with the board on those decisions, but the board will decide. He also presented an amendment that protects existing groundwater supply, stating the new water supply fund could not be used for groundwater projects unless it's brackish groundwater. On the House floor Tuesday, Harris said the Legislature has the opportunity to address Texas' growing water needs by passing the resolution. 'This is an incredible opportunity for us to tackle this issue,' Harris said. [Texas is running out of water. Here's why and what state leaders plan to do about it.] Texas water supply faces several threats, including a growing population, climate change and leaking infrastructure. Texas does not have enough water to meet demand in the case of a historic drought, according to state data. The situation will become dire if the hundreds of projects detailed in the state water plan are not completed. Another piece of sweeping legislation, Senate Bill 7, is making its way through the legislative process. Also written by Perry, it covers a wide range of water needs and issues. The Senate unanimously approved it earlier this month. However, Harris made changes to the bill while it was in a House committee. The changes were celebrated by the state's water community. If the House approves the bill, the two chambers will have to reconcile the differences to pass the legislation forward. During a debate on the House Floor, state Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, objected to dedicated funding for water needs. Harrison argued the money should be going to property tax relief. Harris disagreed and argued that securing the state's water supply was an economic imperative. 'The Texas economy will come to a screeching halt,' Harris said, evoking the link between the state's water supply and economy that fuels the state's budget. Members of the state's water community celebrated the bill's passage. Jennifer Walker, director of the Texas Coast and Water program for the National Wildlife Federation, called it a historic win for Texas. 'Having sustained investments is going to be a huge help,' Walker said. 'This allows flexibility for the water board to utilize all the programs at their disposal to best meet the needs of Texas communities.' Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, said it was encouraging to see bipartisan support for the bill. 'We're optimistic that a reasonable and balanced funding approach will prevail,' Fowler said. 'One that empowers the Texas Water Development Board to support the full range of vital programs eligible.' According to Texas 2036, Texas needs to invest at least $154 billion over the next 50 years on water supply projects and infrastructure upgrades. While there are other state and federal programs to fund water needs, there is still a projected shortfall in funding of $112 billion. Water needs have become a focal point for Texas lawmakers in recent years. In 2023, the Texas Legislature allocated a one-time investment of $1 billion to create the Texas Water Fund, with approval from voters. 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.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritize
Texas lawmakers agree that the answer to the state's looming water crisis is to invest billions of dollars into fixing the problem. What they don't agree on, at least for now, is exactly how to spend the money. State. Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine, filed bills this month that take big swings at solving the ongoing water issues plaguing Texas. They include investing billions of dollars into repairing and upgrading aging infrastructure like water pipes as well as creating new water sources for the future. The discussion comes at an important time — a Texas Tribune analysis found the state could face a severe water shortage by 2030 if there was a recurring, statewide record-breaking drought and if state leaders and water entities failed to use strategies that secure water supplies. A pair of proposals — Senate Joint Resolution 66 and House Joint Resolution 7 — would allocate up to $1 billion a year to boost water projects. Their accompanying bills, House Bill 16 and Senate Bill 7, both would create new water committees to oversee the funding and promote investment into new water projects. Gov. Greg Abbott has declared water an emergency item for this legislative session, which means the bills could be on a fast track in the Legislature. Here's what you need to know as lawmakers begin to debate the two packages of bills. Both proposals would funnel up to $1 billion a year to the Texas Water Fund — a special account voters approved in 2023 to help pay for water projects. Perry's resolution calls for 80% of the money to fund projects to create new water supplies and 20% to repair aging infrastructure. Harris' resolution does not specify how the money would be split and would leave the structure how it is — letting the Texas Water Development Board decide how to prioritize projects. The debate around the bills centers on whether to prioritize projects for new water sources or repairing aging water pipes that leak massive amounts of water throughout the state. Water experts agree that projects to create new sources of water need to be funded. However, there is concern about neglecting repairs on water pipes around the state. 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. Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, said the House and Senate will have to find a balance to move water legislation forward. 'I don't think anybody takes issue with the fact that we need to invest in new water supplies,' Fowler said. 'But there is a tremendous need to address aging infrastructure. We have a lot of immediate needs, like yesterday.' Texas is looking to desalination to remove salt from seawater or brackish groundwater to create more water for drinking, irrigation and industrial uses. Another strategy would be treating produced water, which is wastewater that comes out of the ground during oil and gas production. According to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, every barrel of oil produced also generates five barrels of wastewater. Perry lists both options as eligible for state money in Senate Bill 7. He also acknowledged that old pipes are leading massive amounts of water every year, calling that primarily a local issue. 'But I'm willing to leverage tax dollars, as we have in the past, and work on that at the same time,' Perry said. 'But supply has to be priority one.' Jennifer Walker, director for the Texas Coast and Water Program for National Wildlife Federation, said repairing old, leaking infrastructure should be considered a new water supply and urges lawmakers to be more liberal in that definition. 'Stopping that [water] loss and delivering more drops to customers, that is a new water supply for our communities,' she said. 'We're not delivering it to our customers otherwise, unless we address that.' A 2022 report by Texas Living Waters Project, a coalition of environmental groups, estimated that Texas water systems lose at least 572,000 acre-feet per year, or about 51 gallons of water per home or business connection every day — enough water to meet the total annual municipal needs of Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Laredo and Lubbock combined. Some of Texas' water infrastructure is nearly as old as the state itself — the oldest pipes date back to as early as the 1890s. In 2019, Little Bill's Plumbing in Pampa unearthed a wooden water pipe that experts believed could have been used before the city was incorporated. Tom Gooch, vice president and a water resource planner with Freese and Nichols, said much of Texas' water infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life, but repairs remain largely a local responsibility — and funding is limited. "The tradition in Texas has been that this kind of maintenance and repair tends to be a local responsibility." Many pipes across the state are over 100 years old, and underground pipes can be damaged when the ground around them expands and contracts during droughts and wetter weather cycles. Corrosion and leaks are hard to detect, and with thousands of miles of underground pipes, repairs are expensive and time-consuming. Sources like the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas give local governments money to help, but there are more funding requests than the Water Development Board can fund. Most of the experts agree that both new water supply and fixing deteriorating infrastructure is important. However, some think it would be best to keep giving the water development board discretion over how state money is spent. Fowler, with the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, said he believes a lot of people supported the structure of the Texas Water Fund before because it was set up in a way to give flexibility to the board. 'If we're too prescriptive, then it could potentially impact our overall spending power and what we can actually do,' Fowler said. During a House committee meeting this week, Sarah Kirkle with the Texas Water Association testified in support of the House Joint Resolution. She said it would allow communities to meet new growth needs, upgrade existing facilities and fix broken lines. She was also in support of keeping the power to prioritize spending with the Water Development Board. Gooch said repairing and keeping old infrastructure running is essential. 'I don't know that you can rank it, you've got to do both,' Gooch said. 'You've got to keep your system functioning well, and you've got to go find additional water to put into the system, to appropriately use your resources to get both those things done.' Disclosure: Texas 2036, Texas Living Waters Project and Texas Public Policy Foundation have been financial supporters 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. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. 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