HB1643 - Relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District over the North Harris County Regional Water Authority.

      By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1643       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence   District over the North Harris County Regional Water Authority.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 8801.005, Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 8801.005.  DISTRICT TERRITORY. The district includes   the territory located within the boundaries of Harris County and   Galveston County, as that territory may have been modified under[ :                [ (1)     Section 8801.006 or its predecessor statute,   former Section 151.003(b), Water Code; or                [ (2) ]  other law.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 8801, Special District   Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8801.007 to read as   follows:           Sec.   8801.007.     APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TERRITORY.   Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter does not apply to:                 (1)     the North Harris County Regional Water Authority;   or                 (2)     property located in the territory of the North   Harris County Regional Water Authority, as described by Subchapter   B, Chapter 8888.          SECTION 3.  Section 8888.001(7), Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:                (7)  "Groundwater reduction plan" means a plan adopted   or implemented to supply water, reduce reliance on groundwater,   regulate groundwater pumping and water usage, or require and   allocate water usage among persons [ in order to comply with or   exceed the minimum requirements imposed by the subsidence   district ], including any applicable groundwater reduction   requirements.          SECTION 4.  Section 8888.005(c), Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (c)  The following laws do not apply to the authority:                (1)   Chapter 8801 of this code;                 (2)   Chapter 36, Water Code;                 (3)  [ (2) ]  Section 49.052, Water Code; and                 (4)  [ (3) ]  Sections 49.451-49.455, Water Code.          SECTION 5.  Section 8888.156(b), Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (b)  [ The board by rule shall exempt from the fee established   under Subsection (a) each class of wells that is not subject to a   groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence   district.   If an exempted class of wells becomes subject to a   groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence   district, the authority may charge the fee established under   Subsection (a) on the wells of that class. ]  The board by rule may   exempt any [ other ] class of wells from the fee established under   Subsection (a).          SECTION 6.  Section 8888.157(b), Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (b)  The groundwater reduction plan may be amended at the   discretion of the authority [ subject to the requirements and   procedures of the subsidence district applicable to the amendment   of groundwater reduction plans ].          SECTION 7.  Section 8888.165(a), Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  In implementing this chapter, the board may cooperate   with and request the assistance of the Texas Water Development   Board, the commission, the United States Geological Survey, the   Harris-Galveston Subsidence District [ subsidence district ], other   local governments, and other agencies of the United States and this   state.          SECTION 8.  Section 8888.166(b), Special District Local Laws   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (b)  The authority may expedite the financing and   construction of a surface water delivery system, or other projects   of the authority, to accomplish a conversion from reliance on   groundwater to reliance on surface water not later than [ the   earlier of:                [ (1) the date required by the subsidence district; or                [ (2) ] the date determined by the board to be in the   interest of the authority or one or more districts inside or outside   the authority.          SECTION 9.  The following provisions of the Special District   Local Laws Code are repealed:                (1)  Section 8888.001(12);                (2)  Section 8888.005(b);                (3)  Section 8888.156(c);                (4)  Section 8888.157(c);                (5)  Section 8888.165(b); and                (6)  Section 8888.201.          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.