The Latest Water Policy News | | | TWA FALL 2025 CONFERENCE Get ready! The TWA Fall Conference is coming up October 22–24, 2025, at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter. Join us for three days of connection, collaboration, and timely discussions on Texas water. Early bird pricing ends September 30. Register today for the best rates. Sponsorships. Click here to learn more and sign up as a TWA 2025 Fall Conference Sponsor. Exhibitors. A limited number of exhibitor spots are available. Please contact Lindsey Ford for information. General Information. Find all the latest conference details, including important dates, schedule of events, and room block information on our 2025 Fall Conference Page. We can't wait to see you in October! Thanks to Our Sponsors! This event is made possible through the generosity and support of our 2025 Fall Conference Sponsors. | | | HIGHLIGHTED CONFERENCE EVENTS
New! TWA Volunteer Service Project Kick off the Fall Conference by giving back! Join the TWA Membership & Services Committee on Wednesday, October 22, for a special Apple Snail Removal Service Project, hosted by the San Antonio River Authority and San Antonio Water System. TWA volunteers will help protect the native ecosystem by removing invasive apple snails and their egg casings along the River Walk and Museum Reach. Training, materials, and lunch will be provided. Find more information here and register by October 11. | | | EAA Summit Luncheon TWA Fall Conference attendees are invited to the Edwards Aquifer Authority 3rd Annual Summit on Wednesday, October 22, at the EAA Education Outreach Center in San Antonio. This luncheon brings together leaders and influencers for meaningful conversations on safeguarding the Edwards Aquifer. Find more information here and register by October 3. | | | | | | | | | Proposition (Prop) 4. If passed by Texas voters, Prop 4 (formerly HJR 7) would dedicate up to $1 billion of existing state sales and use tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund each year for the next 20 years. Prop 4 will appear on the November 4, 2025, general election ballot. If you are interested in financially supporting an education or advocacy campaign to support Prop 4, or if you would like to receive materials regarding Prop 4 to aid in your own education or advocacy efforts, please contact Sarah Kirkle for more information. Key Water Bills Passed in Special Session. This summer, Governor Greg Abbott called two special sessions subsequent to the 89th Regular Session that ended in June. While no bills were passed in the first special session, five bills that could impact TWA members made it across the finish line during the Second Special Legislative Session. To see a list of TWA's tracked bills that passed and how they may impact your organization, click here. Special Session Items of Note. HB 27 (Harris/Nichols), the Neches and Trinity Valleys GCD export study and moratorium bill, did not pass as Chairman Harris did not concur with the Senate amendment to remove the two-year moratorium on export permits within the GCD. Yesterday, Governor Abbott vetoed SB 18 (Zaffirini/Gerdes), from the Second Special Session, relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit from TCEQ for certain dams or reservoirs operated and maintained for the purposes of erosion, floodwater, and sediment control. Read the veto proclamation here. Both the Senate and House created special investigating committees related to the Hill Country flood events to dig deeper into what did, and did not, work in the emergency response.
| | | | | Agency Updates | TWDB Soliciting Stakeholder Ideas for Flood Research Projects. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is soliciting ideas for research on new projects that support flood planning, flood science, or ideas that build upon previous flood research projects conducted by the TWDB. Project ideas should be submitted anonymously with no names, affiliations, or other identifying information to avoid potential conflicts of interest. To submit ideas, complete this online form by October 31. TCEQ Water Quality Stormwater Seminar. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will host its biennial seminar on October 21 to provide updates on permitting rules, upcoming regulations, and technical aspects of municipal, industrial stormwater, and sludge permits. Find information and registration here. | | | | | | | EPA Requests Court Vacate PFAS MCLs. EPA has filed a motion for partial vacatur in the challenge by utility and industry groups to the agency’s recently finalized PFAS Drinking Water Standards (American Water Works Association, et al. v. EPA, No. 24-1188 (D.C. Cir. 2024)). While EPA will defend the PFOA and PFOS standards, the agency asked the court to vacate both EPA’s determination to regulate and its adoption of MCLs for PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, and the Index PFAS, stating " after further reviewing the statute pursuant to a publicly announced reconsideration process, EPA agrees with petitioners that parts of the rulemaking process were unlawful and parts of the Rule are thus invalid.” Read the motion here. For more information about this litigation, visit AMWA’s PFAS Litigation Information Page. Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0500. Under Government Code section 572.058, an elected or appointed official must recuse themselves from a vote or decision in which they have a personal or private interest originating from a familial relationship that has the potential to influence the public official in the exercise of their duties and responsibilities. Thus, a Nueces River Authority board member whose brother-in-law is an executive staff member of the water supply entity for the City of Corpus Christi should recuse themselves from a vote and otherwise refrain from participating in a decision about Authority business regarding water supply activities that have common or competing interests with the City of Corpus Christi. Read the Opinion here.
| | | | | Welcome New Members | Please join us in welcoming the newest Texas Water Association member!
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2025 Confluence News Sponsors!Become a Confluence Sponsor Here | | | | | About the Texas Water Association From drought to flood, Texas Water Association (TWA), formerly the Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA), is focused on water supply and management and works to promote sound water policy in Texas. Our members provide water and wastewater services to a vast majority of the state and include river authorities, cities, regional and local water districts, drainage and flood districts, irrigation districts, groundwater conservation districts, water users and other stakeholders, and those who support the Texas water industry.
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