Committee passes bill intended to protect ETX aquifers

AUSTIN – 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. According to our news partner KETK, 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.

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

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

“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.

Next, the bill will be sent to the Texas House’s Calendars Committee in order to be scheduled for a floor vote during the current special session.