84th Texas Legislative Session

The governing body of Texas greatly changed after the November 2014 election. Many new faces are present this month in the start of the 84th Texas legislative session which began on January 13, 2015.

The House of Representatives had twenty-five new representatives come into office and at least nine new committee chairs. The Senate has sworn in eight new Senators and has at least four new committee chairs. Texas has a newly elected Governor, Greg Abbott. Dan Patrick was elected Lieutenant Governor, Senator Glenn Hegar replaced Susan Combs and is sworn in as the new Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and new Senators include Bob Hall, Brandon Creighton, Paul Bettencourt, Louis Kolkerst, Van Taylor, Konni Burton, Don Huffines and Charles Perry. The House of Representative welcomed some 25 new members.

Many issues will be discussed this year concerning the future of Texas. Of those topics, one that the state has faced for many years now is the water supply for the growing state of Texas. Issues such as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), brackish groundwater, and renewal of operating permits for groundwater districts are some of the topics being discussed this session.

ASR and brackish groundwater will be the hot topics of discussion. ASR and brackish groundwater are alternative water conservation strategies that could assist in securing Texas’ water supply if approved. ASR is currently being practiced in a few areas of the state; officials will look into adopting this practice and make ASR more widespread across the state of Texas. The exploration of brackish groundwater and promotion of it will also be a primary topic of discussion.

“The 84th Session of the Texas Legislature will be another interesting water session,” predicts C. E. Williams, General Manager Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District.