AUSTIN — State Representative Trent Ashby (R – Lufkin) filed two important bills – HB 289 and HB 290 – focused on protecting East Texas water and improving disaster recovery tools for rural communities.
HB 290 directly addresses growing concerns over large-scale groundwater pumping projects in East Texas. Ashby has been at the forefront of the opposition to permit applications submitted to the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater Conservation District by Conservation Equity Management Partners. These applications would allow the extraction of over 15 billion gallons of water annually from the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers – volumes that would seriously threaten local water availability and long-term aquifer health.
“Water is our most precious resource, and the law must reflect that,” said Ashby. “HB 290 closes a legal loophole and ensures local groundwater districts must abide by MAG limits when issuing permits. This legislation would protect our communities today and ensure our children and grandchildren have water tomorrow.”
HB 290 amends the Texas Water Code to prevent groundwater conservation districts from issuing permits that exceed the state’s Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG) figures, which determine an aquifer’s desired future conditions and long-term sustainability.
In addition to legislation aimed at safeguarding East Texas water resources, Ashby also filed legislation to expand disaster relief assistance for rural communities.
HB 289 builds upon HB 3010, which Ashby passed during the 89th Regular Session to create the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program to help communities rebuild critical infrastructure in the wake of a natural disaster. HB 289 would expand eligibility for counties – including those in the Texas Hill Country – to access recovery assistance funds.
“In times of crisis or growth, rural communities deserve the same tools and protections that urban parts of our state rely on every day,” said Ashby. “This program was designed to provide much-needed assistance to areas just like Kerr County – rural communities, hit hard by a natural disaster, that need help rebuilding roads, schools, and water systems. HB 289 makes a small but vital adjustment to ensure these counties aren’t left behind.”
Rep. Ashby remains committed to supporting rural Texas through proactive, common-sense legislation that reflects local priorities and long-term stewardship.
Trent Ashby is in his seventh term as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He currently represents a six-county region that includes Angelina, Houston, Polk, San Augustine, Trinity, and Tyler Counties.
