Governor Sign’s Averitt’s Water Policy Bill

The bill requires basins to develop recommendations to meet in-stream needs at certain bays and estuaries.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is required to adopt the recommendations as environmental flow standards.

The measure also requires the TCEQ to give preference to water permit applicants based on conservation considerations like water levels, the environment and public need.

The measure also establishes the Environmental Flows Advisory Group, made up of appointed members, to oversee the process and make biennial reports to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.

"Passage of this legislation along with the water infrastructure funding we secured will allow us to enact decades worth of water planning work and ensure a clean, adequate supply of water for future generations of Texans,” Averitt said.

The governor also signed Averitt’s Senate Bill 12, which substantially increases funding for the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan and the Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance Program, aimed at reducing motor vehicle pollution in the state.

"Mobile emissions are arguably the most important piece of the state's air quality puzzle," Averitt said.

"I've been looking at this issue for a long time from a lot of different angles, and Senate Bill 12 will maximize programs that taxpayers have already invested in to produce meaningful, expeditious air quality improvements for Texas,” he said.
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