State Rep. Cody Harris files four house bills relating to groundwater situation

AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) — State Representative Cody Harris (R-Palestine) filed four Texas house bills during a special legislative session in Austin on Monday to address the groundwater situation affecting Texas.

Harris took to Facebook to say the following four new house bills will ensure ‘the long-term viability of our precious groundwater across the state of Texas- not just East Texas alone.’

HB 215

• Harris said this bill looks to ‘change the rule of capture’ and create liability on anyone that pumps over 25,000 gallons of water per day.

HB 216

• This bill states that a groundwater conservation district cannot approve an application for a water well if the production and export of all the applied wells total more than five percent of the available groundwater for the conservation district, according to Harris.

HB 217

• Harris said the bill provides liability protection for groundwater conservation districts and allows them to deny a permit based on long term damage caused to the aquifer.

HB 218

• This bill requires two-thirds of surrounding groundwater districts to approve an export permit. This action would relieve groundwater districts from making the decisions on their own, according to Harris.

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