Texas Senate Bill SB 3054

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 4/22/25

Caption

Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, changing the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, and the dissolution and transfer of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.

Summary

SB 3054 restructures local water governance in Starr County by renaming the Starr County Drainage District as the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District and expanding its statutory framework to include groundwater conservation functions. The bill transfers and redesignates the district’s enabling law into a new chapter of the Special District Local Laws Code, updates the district’s powers and governance provisions, and confirms that the district covers all of Starr County. It also authorizes the district to impose an ad valorem tax under Water Code Chapter 49. The bill dissolves the separate Starr County Groundwater Conservation District and transfers its assets, liabilities, contracts, employees, and records to the newly renamed district. It also preserves continuity by treating existing contracts and records as belonging to the successor district and requires the successor district to complete any necessary dissolution filings with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The bill further allows the district to contract with municipalities to assume utility functions and sets rules for conflicts between the district and other water-related entities, with groundwater-related district rules given priority in certain conflicts.

Impact

SB 3054 would amend the Special District Local Laws Code and related water-district governance provisions to consolidate two Starr County special districts into one combined drainage and groundwater conservation district. It would repeal the prior statutory framework for Chapter 8803 and replace it with a new Chapter 11022, while preserving and transferring existing legal relationships, personnel, and assets. The bill also expands the successor district’s authority to levy an ad valorem tax and clarifies its powers under the Water Code, affecting landowners, utilities, municipalities, and other water service providers in Starr County.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or vote data, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate strong support or opposition. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears to be a local-government reorganization measure intended to streamline district administration and consolidate groundwater and drainage functions. The absence of recorded votes or discussion suggests the measure was, at least at this stage, treated as a routine local bill rather than a highly controversial one.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are the consolidation of two districts, the transfer of assets and liabilities, and the new taxing authority. Property owners and local stakeholders could be concerned about the scope of the ad valorem tax power, while municipalities and utility providers may be attentive to the bill’s provisions governing conflicts between district rules and municipal or utility actions. The bill also gives the district priority in groundwater-related conflicts, which could be disputed by regional water authorities or utilities if those rules affect existing operations or service areas.