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Capitol Watch: Interim Charges for House Committees
By State Representative Larry Phillips
Apr 13, 2008
This week I will continue discussing the interim charges for House committees. The charges are good indicators of what legislation the legislature will take up during the next session. Interim charges are the issues that the Speaker asks committees to study during the time between regular legislative sessions in order to make recommendations for legislation for the following legislative session.
Legislators rely on public input when crafting legislation, and it is important that they hear from citizens during the interim. This week, I will discuss the Committee on Natural Resources, which oversees the conservation, control, and development of the natural resources of
House Committee on Natural Resources
· Monitor ongoing efforts related to joint planning in groundwater management areas, including progress toward setting desired future conditions for aquifers. Examine and evaluate the process relating to an appeal challenging the approval of desired future conditions.
· Review and evaluate: the regulatory model for investor-owned water and sewer utilities as provided in the Water Code; rate case processes and timing, consultant fee recovery, and overall cost reductions; and, options for more effective customer participation. Consider consolidated tariffs for companies owning more than one system, and review and evaluate methods for financing expansion to new developments.
· Monitor the implementation of legislation enacted by the 80th Legislature; work in conjunction with legislatively created committees, such as the Environmental Flows Advisory Group, the Water Conservation Advisory Council, the Bexar Metropolitan Water District Oversight Committee, and the Joint Interim Committee on State Water Funding.
· Evaluate creating a uniform template for the creation of Municipal Utility Districts or other special districts with addendums for special powers to expedite the creation of new districts.
· Examine "resign to run" rules for soil and water conservation district members in comparison to groundwater district members.
· Study issues related to the current efficacy of flood control devices in
· Review the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality fee structure for water programs and examine the scope of services being funded by such fees and the allocation of resources, including personnel to provide services on a timely basis.
· Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction: the Office of Canadian River Compact Commissioner for Texas; the Office of Pecos River Compact Commissioner for Texas; the Office of Red River Compact Commissioner for Texas; the Office of Rio Grande Compact Commissioner for Texas; the Office of Sabine River Compact Administrator for Texas; the Multi-State Water Resources Planning Commission; and the Texas Water Development Board.
The Committee on Natural Resources can be reached at 512-463-0802. For more information on these charges or any other matter of state government, please contact my office by writing to