Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 685 keeps a municipality from adopting an increased rate for water or sewer utility service
• exemption that is higher than the rate established for other entities that receive comparable utility service
• If the retail water utility cannot provide that area with reliable service, consequently any assets within
• Retail water utilities must plan 20 to 30 years in advance to provide sufficient service to growing areas
• Relating to the certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water service in an area of

Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with no quorum at the start, but later reached quorum and took up several bills. House Bill 2692, codifying the San Antonio River Authority’s enabling legislation and making non-substantive modernization changes, received brief supportive testimony from the River Authority and was left pending before later being voted out favorably. House Bill 685, which would prevent municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities than comparable customers, also drew support and was reported favorably. House Bill 1318, clarifying compensation issues when a municipality decertifies part of a retail water utility’s service area, was heard without opposition and passed out of committee. House Bill 630, exempting certain older outboard motors from title requirements, likewise passed and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 2497, relating to filtration systems for certain public drinking water systems. Senator Zaffirini described the bill as a response to ongoing secondary water quality complaints, while TCEQ testified that such contaminants are aesthetic rather than health-based and that the water remains safe to drink if primary standards are met. The Texas Rural Water Association opposed the bill as written, arguing filtration may not solve most water quality problems and could be costly for small systems, while a consumer witness from Floresville supported it and described repeated rate increases and brown water after a filtration system was removed. Members discussed narrowing the bill through a committee substitute and emphasized the need for flexibility and technical expertise; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Kolkhorst later asking to be recorded as voting no. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2850, which would create a pollinator task force to study habitat loss, public education, and best practices for protecting bees and other pollinators. Senator Menendez and invited witness Erica Thompson of Texas BeeWorks highlighted major colony losses and the economic importance of pollinators to Texas agriculture, and Environment Texas and the Texas Beekeepers Association supported the measure. Members discussed monarch butterflies, native grasses, milkweed, and conservation efforts, and the bill was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. After testimony, the committee also voted out several pending items, including House Bill 5560 with a committee substitute addressing water-loss penalties and infrastructure improvements, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 685 prevents a municipality from increasing the rate for water or sewer utility service on
• Retail water utilities must plan 20 to 30... years in advance to provide sufficient service to growing
• Members, pollinators are a keystone species that play a crucial role. the ecosystem services that are
• Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer services for certain entities by Representative
• Relating to the certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water and sewer service in

Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 685 would prohibit a municipality from adopting an increased rate for water or sewer utility
• service.
• But in the quality of customer service, making sure things are addressed quickly.
• And getting those folks up to a true cost of service. And, and that would, you know.
• You know, there's, there's a lot of factors in that cost of service. Operators.

Bills: HB 29, HB 685, HB 1633, HB 1689, HB 1690, HB 1918, HB 2010, HB 2500, HB 2608, HB 2626

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• service in an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality.
• The demand this growth has placed on services and infrastructure in our region is significant.
• Across our region, those responsible for providing services and infrastructure to meet this need are
• Our continued growth rate is but one testament to that fact: that we are able to provide services and
• services through a streamlined and transparent process.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• than the rate established for other entities that receive a comparable utility service.
• for communities throughout Texas. greater regionalization of wastewater service delivery.
• If there's a CCN there, they must either seek service or release a service, and there is a cost component
• IOUs provide a vital service to the state of Texas when purchasing small utilities.
• Particular entity or water service provider.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Ministry, a nonprofit organization established in 2013 provides chaplaincy, pastoral, and counseling services
• resolved that the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby honor Chaplain Betsy Buehler for her service
• The Graham family's legacy of community service continues today. Judge Edwin S.
• want y'all to know members they showed up at 8 a.m. this morning to see Senate Health and Human Services
• Their tireless commitment to our communities is a testament to the values of service and collaboration

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB26, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• the teaching profession in Texas and to raise their salaries, to be competitive compared to the services
• This legislation also provides free pre-k services for the children of Texas educators ensuring that
• Right now, teachers are charged for those services if pre-K exists in the district that they teach in
• support staff, librarians. nurses, bus drivers, those that work in the cafeteria and janitorial services
• with the vacancy task force findings, and it also increases compensation by providing free pre-K services

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB26, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Nathan Heck's legacy of service to the people of Texas is unparalleled.
• It also tells us that government regulation of a service drives up the price.
• the price of legal services.
• And one idea is to allow qualified non-lawyers to provide some basic legal services for a profit.
• See if together we can make legal services more affordable for all Texans.

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB26, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just wanted to thank you very much for your service to all of Texas. This morning.
• is often the only way to pay for those improvements and ensure safe, reliable drinking water and service
• and wastewater infrastructure is because of excessive fragmentation. too many utilities providing service
• This will enhance water and sewer utility service to Texas customers by promoting faster utility improvements
• The System Improvement Charge, or SIC, was intended to provide water and sewer utilities with a method

Bills: SB 384, SB 503, SB 565, SB 616, SB 740

Keywords: hunting license, fishing license, donation, operation game thief fund, wildlife conservation, livestock, electronic registry, marks and brands, Texas Animal Health Commission, animal identification, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water and Agriculture and Rural Affairs convened under the leadership of Chairman Kelly Hancock, who opened the meeting with a prayer in remembrance of Chairman Perry, who was absent due to a personal loss. The session focused on the discussions surrounding SB384, which aims to support the longstanding initiative known as Operation Game Thief. Senator Flores presented the bill, emphasizing its essential role in the fight against poaching through public support. The operation has a successful track record of convictions but is currently dependent on donations and merchandise sales for funding. The committee aimed to vote on multiple bills during this session, contingent on achieving a quorum. Notably, discussions also revolved around fiscal notes on two bills that were set aside for later consideration, indicating the committee's intention to carefully manage their legislative decisions. The meeting showcased a productive atmosphere, with committee members actively engaged in the review and potential advancement of key legislative measures.

Bills: SB137

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

Bills: SB 1169, SB 1285, SB 1583, SB 1611, SB 1898, SB 1976, SB 2160, SB 2161, SB 2658, SB 2661, SB 2662, SB 2692, SB 1055, SB 1359, SB 2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, groundwater management, water conservation, district planning, environmental regulation, sustainability, groundwater, conservation, fees, agricultural uses, water regulation, wastewater treatment, environmental testing, pollutants

Transcript Highlights:

• an abortion assistance entity or abortion provider for the procurement of an abortion or related services
• Uh, that's, that service there that she stopped to have. Absolutely not.
• questions there, but, you know, similarly, childcare, you know, there are some public childcare services
• They're supporting residents with services grounded in public health, compassion, and dignity.
• It blocks even neutral logistical support like transportation or childcare, even when those services

Bills: SB 6, SB 11, SB 33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• an abortion assistance entity or abortion provider for the procurement of an abortion or related services
• good use of public funds to pay for abortions when local governments could be funding so many other services
• children, material or legal support, financial assistance, employment support, education, health care services
• Would that ensnare... that service there that she stopped at? Absolutely not.
• Local governments aren't intervening in private decisions; they're supporting residents with services

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we obviously want to deploy all of our paid services, which are our ancillary services, our emergency
• response services.
• Also, with some ancillary services backed up behind that, regulation services will still be there.
• And so that's why our group urges any type of service-oriented, contracted service-oriented response.
• Data centers provide a range of essential services.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• under certain... ...that put under certain circumstances, the water system was there under the Public Service
• Would allow those unregulated privately-owned sewer systems, which are affiliated with a regulated sewer
• system, to elect to come under the regulation of the Public Service Commission.
• They share common corporate services, such as financial, legal, and maintenance, etc., that go on with
• What I understand about reading the bill is that if you have a sewer system—and I remember the Shelby

Bills: HB68, HB140, HB168

Keywords: foreign investment, agriculture, property rights, critical infrastructure, sanctions, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates, wastewater management, Alabama utilities, Jefferson County Board of Health

Transcript Highlights:

• services outside the city limits.
• That means that 83% of our water utility services are outside.
• Yes, we do have a very large water service area.
• . for businesses and retail services that our residents need.
• To keep from having to drive 30 to 40 miles into bigger towns to get adequate services.

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• with your mandatory duty under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code to provide continuous and adequate service
• investor-owned utilities have the ability to enforce is their tariffs, which are their rates and their service
• conditions for delivering service to residential and businesses.
• They have to have measures for reasonable cutbacks and service interruptions for folks if they need to
• On water and service supply, we do have a matter of pending business.

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• with your mandatory duty under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code to provide continuous and adequate service
• one thing that IOUs have the ability to enforce is their tariffs, which are their rates and their service
• conditions for delivering service to residential and businesses.
• They have to have measures for reasonable cutbacks and service interruptions for folks if they need to

Bills: SB 1169, SB 1285, SB 1583, SB 1611, SB 1898, SB 1976, SB 2160, SB 2161, SB 2658, SB 2661, SB 2662, SB 2692, SB 1055, SB 1359, SB 2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• bless their families for their service bless their families for their service bless their families bless
• of notice procedures related to service of notice procedures related to service of notice for a minor
• office National Guard Legal Services office National Guard Legal Services office including positions
• page 22 K through 12 Services page 22 K through 12 Services page 24 Museum Services 24 Museum Services
• and to undertake routine services and to undertake routine services and to undertake special special

Bills: SB 26, SB 28, SJR 36, SB 616, SB 565, SB 384, SB 28, SB 28, SR 131, SR 168, SR 174, SR 175

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to recognize the City of Allum for their outstanding service and leadership to Senate District
• Thank you for your service. to Senate District 8 and to the great state of Texas.
• Doctor, thank you for coming here today and serving. as our capital doctor and for your service to your
• his opinion on their activities. countless media reports of corrupt activities of lottery courier services
• our lieutenant governor personally visited one of the licensed retail establishments of the courier service

Bills: SB26, SB28, SJR36, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB28, SB28, SR131, SR168, SR174, SR175

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement