Local Control: Call now if you don't want a strip club next to your house.

More stripping away of local control from our cities brought to you by the oil soaked Texas Legislature.

HB 2595 – Relating to the use of municipal initiative and referendum to restrict property rights.

This is the killing of citizen ballot initiatives which affect “property rights” ie. drilling bans, siting of strip clubs or landfills or you name it.

if the proposed enactment or repeal would restrict the right of any person to use or access the person’s private property that would limit the use of real property for economic gain;

This bill is by Jim Keffer and is sponsored in the Senate by Troy Fraser. The hearing is Tuesday in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. If it passes the committee, it will move quickly to the Senate. It has already passed the House.

Troy Fraser – 512-463-0124
Craig Estes – 512-463-0130
Brian Birdwell – 512-463-0122
Bob Hall – 512-463-0102
Kelly Hancock – 512-463-0109
Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa – 512-463-0120
Eddie Lucio, Jr. – 512-463-0127
Robert Nichols – 512-463-0103
Carlos Uresti – 512-463-0119
Kel Seliger – 512-463-0131
Judith Zaffirini – 512-463-0121

This is the same committee that passed HB 40 so you should go ahead and call your senator. Who represents me will tell you who that is if you don’t know.

Also up:

HB 1794 by Geren up for a Senate floor vote tomorrow Monday, May 18. It is the low TCEQ penalties/limited lawsuit bill. Call your local Senator (Who represents me) ask them to vote NO.

MONDAY Committee Hearings

Senate Ag, Water & Rural Affairs

Support these GOOD bills.

HB 928 Guillen SP: Hinojosa – Relating to state and local planning for and responses to drought.

HB 3298 Author: Larson | et al. Sponsor: Perry – Relating to a study conducted by the Texas Water Development Board regarding the development of a market and conveyance network for water in this state.

Sen. Charles Perry, 512.463.0128
Sen. Judith Zaffirini 512.463.0121
Sen. Brandon Creighton, 512.463.0104
Sen. Bob Hall, 512.463.0102
Sen. Juan Hinojosa, 512.463.0120
Lois Kolkhorst, 512.463.0118
Sen. Jose Rodriguez, 512.463.0129

House Natural Resources

SB 551 Seliger
Relating to the duty of the Water Conservation Advisory Council to submit a report and recommendations regarding water conservation in this state.

Chair, Jim Keffer 512.463.0656
Vice-Chair, Trent Ashby – 512.463.0508
Dennis Bonnen, 512.463.0729
DeWayne Burns, 512.463.0538
James Frank, 512.463. 0534
Kyle Kacal, 512.463.0412
Tracy King, 512.463.0194
Lyle Larson 512.463.0646
Eddie Lucio III 512.463.0606
Nevarez 512.463.0566
Paul Workman 512.463.0652

TUESDAY Committee Hearings

Senate Natural Resources & Econ Dev.

HB 14 Morrison | et al. SP: Watson – Relating to the Texas emissions reduction plan. We support this GOOD bill for clean air funding which extends the life of this program for additional years.

HB 2595 by Keffer – BAD Bill that affects local citizen initiated referendums. See above

About Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.