Presentation by Heather Cooke, Legislative Coordinator of Austin Water, at the 2016 Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium.

1. Legislative and Regulatory Updates
for Water Conservation
CTWEN – Annual Symposium
February 2, 2016
Heather Cooke
Legislative Coordinator, Austin Water

2. State and Federal Funding

3. Texas PACE Districts
• Travis County District
• Barton Creek Mall
• Houston District
• More coming

4. Conservation - Passed
• SB 1356 – Sales tax holiday
• SB 551 – Water Conservation
Advisory Council legislative
recommendations
• HB 3302 –TxDOT “regionally
appropriate” plants

5. Conservation - Failed
• HB 2788 – Jail water use
• HB 928/SB 329 - TCEQ notice for
drought plans & stage changes

6. Alternate Water
• Graywater/alternate on-site
sources - HB 1902 passed
• Rainwater - no changes

7. TCEQ Rules – HB 1902
Graywater/Other On-Site Sources

8. Aquifer Storage & Recovery
(ASR)

9. House Natural Resources

10. Senate Agriculture,
Water & Rural Affairs

11. Key Vacancies & Races

12. More
Informa+on
Heather
Cooke
Aus.n
Water
U.lity
Legisla.ve
Coordinator
512-­‐972-­‐0083
heather.cooke@aus.ntexas.gov
www.capitol.state.tx.us