UPDATE: Bill to protect East Texas aquifers passed by State House

UPDATE: On Monday, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 27, a bill written to protect East Texas aquifers by blocking drilling permits for 16 months during a groundwater study.

“HB 27 just passed easily on a voice vote with no debate,” State Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) said on Monday. “Grateful for the strong support of my House colleagues as I continue my fight to protect East Texas water! Onward!”

The bill passed the house in a 126 to 4 vote and is heading to the Texas Senate where it will be heard in committee on Tuesday.

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AUSTIN, Texas (KETK)– During a Natural Resources Committee hearing on Thursday, Texas State Representatives voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 27, which looks to protect East Texas aquifers.

The bill will shut down production and export permits of certain aquifers for 16 months while the Texas Water Development Board conducts a thorough study on East Texas groundwater.

The proposal was added to the Special Session two agenda by Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday evening and he explained that the bill is intended to protect East Texas aquifers.

“We need to ensure appropriate studies are conducted to protect the health of East Texas aquifers,” Abbott said in a statement Wednesday.

Before the bill was passed, State Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) said the proposal solidified a promise he made to East Texans to protect their water rights.

“I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t stop fighting big-money interests trying to profit off East Texas water, and this is the next big step,” Harris said. “My sincere thanks to Governor Abbott for listening to East Texans.

The bill could soon meet legal challenges. Kyle Bass, who filed the permit for 21 high-capacity wells in Anderson County, posted to X a message that has since been deleted saying “this creates an immediate Federal Takings case. see you in federal court,” Bass said.

“I will not be intimidated by threats, by name-calling, or anything of the kind, especially when it’s to try to get me not to represent my constituents and carry out my constitutional duty to stand up for my constituents, and he may think I’m small-time. That’s fine, but my constituents are not small-time. My constituents are the most important thing to me in the job that I do,” Harris said.

On Sunday, Harris said the Texas House’s Calendars Committee scheduled HB 27 for a vote and debate on the floor of the Texas House on Monday.

“HB 27 has cleared another hurdle by being voted out of the House Calendars committee and set for debate by the full House on Monday,” Harris said. “The opposition has now hired high powered lobbyists to fight against the bill and spread misinformation, so it’s more important than ever for people to call lawmakers across the state and ask them to vote FOR HB 27.”

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