Bill Text: TX HB2225 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
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-Enrolled.html
| H.B. No. 2225 | ||
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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. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.B. No. 2225 was passed by the House on April | ||
| 14, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 10, 1 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.B. No. 2225 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
| 21, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| _____________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
