HB 5659

H.B. No. 5659
  AN ACT
  relating to the procedural requirements applicable to interbasin
  transfers of water involving the Northeast Texas Municipal Water
  District.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 78, Acts of the 53rd Legislature,
  Regular Session, 1953, is amended by adding Sections 17A and 17B to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 17A.  (a)  Before the District may enter into a contract
  for an interbasin transfer of water or acquire a permit or other
  authorization from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  for a proposed interbasin transfer, the Board of Directors shall
  hold a public hearing on the proposed interbasin transfer.
         (b)  The Board of Directors shall provide any interested
  person an opportunity to appear before the Board at the hearing and
  speak on the proposed interbasin transfer.
         (c)  The Board of Directors shall provide notice of the
  hearing in the manner provided by Section 49.063, Water Code, for a
  meeting of the Board.
         Sec. 17B.  The District may enter into a contract or acquire
  a permit or other authorization described by Section 17A of this Act
  only if the contract or authorization is approved by a majority vote
  of the governing bodies of at least five of the cities entitled to
  appoint one or more directors under Section 3 or 6 of this Act.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I certify that H.B. No. 5659 was passed by the House on May
  15, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 108, Nays 32, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 5659 on May 28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 105, Nays 29,
  1 present, not voting.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
         I certify that H.B. No. 5659 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays
  3.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
           __________________
                Governor