Meeting Texas Water Needs for the next 50 years"
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas HB 4 will help secure our water supplies for generations even through rapid population and economic growth" said Gov. Rick Perry while signing House Bill 4 and surrounded by
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst House Speaker Joe Straus as well as the bills authors Reps. Allan Ritter Four Price Eric Johnson Doug Miller and Eddie Lucio III and sponsor
Sen. Troy Fraser at
the signing ceremony.
The governor had called on legislators early in the session to build and pass a plan to lay the foundation for meeting Texas water future water needs.
HB 4 provides for:
- Active full-time governance at the Texas Water Development Board;
- Creation of a new funding mechanism to support water-supply project implementation over the next 50 years; and
- Directs local regional & state officials to prioritize projects to ensure efficient use of available resources.
Water is an essential part of everyones life and ensuring adequate supplies means continued job creation stronger communities and healthier families for decades to come" Perry said.
HB 4 will ensure Texas has a reliable water supply for the next 50 years by promoting conservation and innovative reuse. With voter approval of SJR 1 this fall this $2 billion investment will fund up to $30 billion in projects over the next 50 years.
These measures will help address the increased demand population growth will have on our water needs now and into the future.
Our states economic engine continues to outpace the rest of the nation so were taking aggressive steps to ensure our infrastructure can support the accompanying growth" Lt. Gov. Dewhurst said.
This bill is part of an overall solution that combines great fiscal stewardship with citizen involvement and sound strategic planning to meet our states water needs for the next 50 years" Dewhurst said.
The Texas House made HB 4 a top priority because we have all seen the devastating effects that severe drought can have on our farms our communities and our entire economy" said House Speaker Joe Straus.
In addition we know that a reliable supply of water will help us remain the leading state in the country for job creation" Straus said.
It has been an honor to work with leadership on securing our future water supply" said the bills author State Rep. Allan Ritter (R-Nederland.)
The Governor and the Legislature worked together to help ensure that we will have our most essential element to public health and economic growth for decades to come Ritter said.
The drought not only has an impact on the health and safety of our communities but it also affects our States economy and the ability to attract new businesses" Sen. Troy Fraser (right R-Horseshoe Bay) said.
I am glad that we finally passed HB 4 to implement the State Water Plan so we can ensure Texas will have sufficient water supplies during times of drought."
By creating new funds that will support local and regional projects and lower the cost of issuing bonds for much-needed water projects HB 4 will help secure our water supplies for generations even through rapid population and economic growth" Perry said.
House Bill 4 becomes law on Sept. 1 2013.
