The Latest Water Policy News
| | | A Message to Our Members As Kerr County and Central Texas continue to recover from the devastating floods earlier this month, our thoughts remain with the families, communities, and members affected.
| | | | | Save the Date for TWA 2025 Fall Conference. Join us October 22–24 in San Antonio for timely water policy discussions, networking, and more. Stay tuned as the registration portal and hotel block will open soon. Membership Reminder. If you are the bundle coordinator for your organization, now is the perfect time to review your organization's TWA membership level and staff roster. Please visit the TWA Member Hub to view your account, update team members, and manage invoices. If you have any questions regarding your membership, please contact Lindsey Ford, TWA Membership & Events Director. TWA Risk Management Fund – Request for Proposals. As part of the TWA Risk Management Fund’s (TWARMF) fiduciary responsibility to periodically review and assess its service providers, the TWARMF Board will initiate a competitive process to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide comprehensive third-party administrative services. This effort reflects the Fund’s commitment to maintaining high-quality service, competitive value, and alignment with evolving operational needs. For more information regarding the proposal process, visit the TWARMF website on or after Friday, July 25th, or contact Aaron Wilkerson, TWARMF General Counsel. | | | | | | | Special Session. The Special Session began this week on Monday, July 21. Governor Abbott issued a proclamation identifying 18 agenda items for the Special Session with five items impacting water, including: - Flood Warning Systems
- Flood Emergency Communications
- Relief Funding for Hill Country Floods
- Natural Disaster Preparation and Recovery
- Water Conservation Incentives for Developers
Read the full Special Session press release here. | | | | | | | House and Senate Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding. The Texas House and Senate announced the formation of Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding. The committees will address key items, including warning systems, emergency communications, relief funding for Hill Country floods, and natural disaster preparation and recovery. Read the press release here.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced the Senate Select Committee with Senator Charles Perry (Lubbock) as Chairman and Senator Pete Flores (Pleasanton) as Vice Chair. Find the full committee membership here. Speaker Dustin Burrows announced the House Select Committee with Representative Ken King (Canadian) as Chairman and Armando Martinez (Weslaco) as Vice Chair. Find the full committee membership here. The first committee hearing took place in Austin on July 23. A second hearing is scheduled for July 31 in Kerrville to allow local residents to speak before lawmakers. | | | | | Agency Updates | SAO Audit Report. The Texas State Auditor’s Office (SAO) released an audit report on Selected Watermaster Programs at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The objectives of this audit were to determine whether TCEQ has processes and related controls over selected watermaster programs to manage and maintain the completeness and validity of streamflow, reservoir, and water diversion data and ensure compliance with water rights and other applicable requirements. Find the full report here.
TWDB Stakeholder Input for Groundwater Modeling and Brackish Groundwater Research. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is seeking stakeholder input on ideas for new research projects that support groundwater modeling and brackish groundwater studies as well as the designation of brackish groundwater production zones. To submit your idea complete the solicitation form by July 31. | | | | | | | Cactus Water Services, LLC v. COG Operating, LLC. On June 27, the Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in a closely-watched case related to the ownership of produced water. In affirming the Eighth Court of Appeals, the Court held that absent an express reservation, the mineral estate "has the right to possession, custody, control, and disposition of the constituent water in the liquid waste from its hydrocarbon production.” Read the opinion here. Baumgardner v. Brazos River Authority. In 2023, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1045, creating the Fifteenth Court of Appeals and granting it “exclusive intermediate appellate jurisdiction” over, among other matters, cases brought by or against an “agency in the executive branch of the state government.” In a per curiam opinion issued on June 27, the Texas Supreme Court held that a river authority is not an executive branch agency for the purposes of Fifteenth Court jurisdiction, granting BRA’s motion to re-transfer an appeal to the Tenth Court of Appeals. Read the opinion here. | | | | | Welcome New Members | Please join us in welcoming the newest Texas Water Association members!
Brazosport Water Authority North American Development Bank Pape-Dawson Engineers | | | | | Thank you to our
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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