The Chamber is supporting key water and air quality legislation in the Texas Legislature. The Chamber is closely following dozens of bills affecting the Dallas-Fort Worth business community.  Three key bills the Chamber is supporting are Senate Bill 3, Senate Bill 675 and Senate Bill 12.

SB 3 and SB 675 are long-range water bills filed by State Sen. Kip Averitt, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee.  Key items in these bills include reservoir designation, environmental flows, financing, water conservation and planning.

If passed, the bills will move the Texas Water Development Board’s statewide water plan forward.  The 2007 State Water Plan resulted from five years of local and regional water planning, decision making, and extensive public participation. Passage of the state water plan is essential to the Dallas-Fort Worth region's future economic development.

The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed SB 3 on March 15, and it was passed on the Senate floor on March 27. The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee. SB 675 is pending in the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

The Senate Committee passed SB 12, a natural resources bill also introduced by Sen. Averitt,  on March 13.  The main components of the bill directly support the Chamber's air quality agenda.  The bill enhances the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan and the Low Income Repair and Assistance Program, which are designed to reduce emissions from cars and construction equipment, which cause over 70 percent of harmful emissions in Dallas/Ft. Worth’s air.

For information on these issues, contact Jay Barksdale at (214) 746-6783.