East Texas representatives, residents react to failure of water bill

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The close of the second special session on Wednesday evening led to a disappointing end for House Bill 27, which would’ve required a study of new water drilling in East Texas.

“I’m disappointed, and I felt like if we’d had more time at the end of the session for the conference committees to actually do their work, we might have had a reasonable compromise,” president of Clear Dick Swift said. 

HB27 would’ve required the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to conduct a study on the effects of drilling permits on the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater District. HB 27 also pushed for lawmakers to allow a 16-month pause on approving drilling permits during the TWDB study.

This leaves East Texans concerned about controversial groundwater drilling in the Neches and Trinity Valley area feeling let down, but not without hope. East Texas lawmakers are vowing to continue the fight. 

“We’re going to move forward full force to start uncovering ways in which we can protect our groundwater here in East Texas,” State Rep. Cody Harris (R) Palestine said. 

Harris, a sponsor of HB 27, said he’s now urging the groundwater conservation district to stand firm and deny any applications for export or production until more data is available.

“I wish we had more time to negotiate the bill out to get something that works for the people of East Texas to the governor’s desk,” Harris said. “Now it’s time to focus on the next phase of this fight, because rest assured, this fight is far from over.” 

State Rep. Trent Ashby of Lufkin issued the following statement on Friday:

“I’m deeply disappointed that the the moratorium was stripped from HB 27, which undercut the bill’s original purpose – to give our communities the opportunity to fully assess the long-term impact of high-volume groundwater exports before new permits are approved. While this outcome is frustrating, our fight is far from over,” Ashby said. “I remain committed to protecting our aquifers, defending private property rights, and making sure rural voices are heard—because the future of East Texas depends on it. I want to thank Governor Abbott for listening to the concerns of East Texans by adding this issue to the special session call. I also commend Chairman Cody Harris for his unwavering leadership and grit throughout this process. Cody has fought tooth and nail to protect our water, and I was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with him as a Joint Author of HB 27.”

Harris added that if the governor calls for a third special session, he will petition to add the bill to the agenda again to continue the fight for East Texas.

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