Texas Senate
Standing Committee
Oversees water system reliability and supply, agricultural activities, groundwater management, rural economic development, and issues affecting rural communities across Texas.
Committee Leadership
Committee Composition
Committee Size
7 Members
Republicans
4
Democrats
3
Committee Partisan Split
4R – 3D
Committee Membership
Most Recent Session Activity
Metrics reflect activity during the most recent legislative session.
Legislation Referred
183
Legislation Voted Out
104
Overall Efficiency
56.83%
Committee Meetings
15
Interim Charges
- Assessing the Water Demands of Energy-Intensive Technologies: Examine the current water consumption rates for high-consumption cooling technologies, including data centers. Make recommendations to improve transparency for local water providers and ensure industrial growth does not compromise the affordability of water for Texas residents and agricultural producers.
- Safeguarding the Texas Livestock Industry: Examine the state’s preparedness and response strategies regarding the New World Screwworm (NWS). Evaluate the effectiveness of current surveillance, monitoring, and control efforts by the Texas Animal Health Commission and partner agencies to prevent reintroduction of NWS into Texas. Make recommendations to strengthen biosecurity protocols, improve coordination with federal and international partners, and ensure the long-term protection of the Texas livestock industry and wildlife populations.
- Prioritizing Utility Revenue for Infrastructure Maintenance: Study the practice of large municipalities transferring revenue from water and wastewater utilities to general funds. Assess the impact of such transfers on delays in projects, infrastructure maintenance backlogs, and water loss mitigation. Make recommendations to limit the percentage of utility revenue available for transfer and ensure ratepayer funds are dedicated exclusively to the sustainability and security of Texas water systems.
- Evaluating Desalination Viability and Regulatory Efficiency: Inventory existing facilities and review the permitting framework across relevant state agencies to improve efficiency. Assess the practicality of desalination in high-feasibility regions and identify opportunities for local-level implementation. Make recommendations to streamline the regulatory process.
Committee Jurisdiction
The Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs oversees a range of issues affecting the state’s water resources, agricultural activities, and rural communities. Key areas of jurisdiction include:
- Water System Reliability: Evaluating the state’s water systems to identify opportunities for improving reliability and capacity to serve the public, reviewing coordination of relevant state agencies.
- Water Utility Infrastructure: Assessing the condition of Texas’s water infrastructure, including deferred maintenance and disaster resilience, and recommending upgrades to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
- Water Supply: Reviewing projects in the State Water Plan, considering regulatory processes for innovative technologies such as marine desalination, and recommending improvements to address water supply needs.
- Groundwater Management and Protection: Evaluating the state’s groundwater management processes, data used for regional planning, and conservation goals, and making recommendations to protect groundwater quality.
- Rural Employment: Studying and making recommendations to support rural small business development and workforce needs, exploring innovative methods for business growth in rural areas.
- Daylight Savings Time: Examining the impact of permanently maintaining daylight savings time on the agricultural community.
- Rural Immigration: Considering the impact of federal immigration policies on rural areas, including the release of illegal immigrants, and reporting on the effects on local communities.
Committee Contact Information
Capitol Location
Sam Houston Building, 335
Phone Number
(512) 463-0340
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