Texas Senate Bill SB 3044

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 4/9/25
• Out of Senate Committee: 4/30/25
• Voted on by Senate: 5/6/25
• Out of House Committee: 5/12/25
• Voted on by House: 5/16/25
• Governor Action: 5/29/25

Caption

Relating to the composition of the board of directors and the powers of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District.

Summary

SB 3044 amends the local act governing the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District. The bill expands the district’s board from five directors to seven and adds two city-appointed seats: one appointed by the governing body of the City of Marfa and one appointed by the governing body of the City of Presidio. It also revises vacancy and succession procedures so that vacancies and term expirations are handled by the same appointing entity responsible for the seat. The bill also updates the district’s powers and references to conform with current law. It clarifies that the district has the general powers available to groundwater conservation districts under the Water Code, states that the act controls over conflicting general law, and updates the state oversight reference from the Texas Water Commission to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It expressly provides that Section 36.121 of the Water Code does not apply to the district, and it repeals an obsolete subsection of the district’s enabling act. The bill’s practical effect is to change the governance structure of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and to formalize representation for the cities of Marfa and Presidio in district decision-making. It also preserves the district’s existing authority while updating statutory references and clarifying how board appointments and replacements are made under the district’s special law. The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable and largely noncontroversial. The Senate passed the bill unanimously, and the House passed it by a wide margin, indicating broad support for the local governance changes. The bill’s procedural history also shows it moved through the natural resources and local government process without recorded committee opposition in the materials provided. No major points of contention are reflected in the available discussion or voting history. The only notable policy choice is the shift from county-centered board composition to a larger board with direct municipal appointments, which may have been intended to better represent local stakeholders in groundwater management.

Impact

SB 3044 amends the special law creating the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District, increasing the board from five to seven members and assigning appointment authority for two seats to the City of Marfa and the City of Presidio. It changes vacancy and successor provisions to track the appointing entity, updates references to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and confirms that the district operates under its special act and applicable groundwater district powers while exempting it from Section 36.121 of the Water Code. These changes affect the district, its board, and the local governments involved in appointments.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have enjoyed broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Senate unanimously and the House by a large margin, and there is no committee transcript indicating controversy. The voting pattern suggests the Legislature viewed the measure as a routine local governance update for the district rather than a contentious policy change.

Contention

No significant contention is evident in the provided materials. The only potentially sensitive issue is the reallocation of board appointment authority and the expansion of the board to include direct city appointments, which changes the balance of representation within the district. However, the strong vote totals indicate that any such concerns did not generate meaningful opposition in the Legislature.