WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 29

Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Sarah Eckhardt and 4 co-sponsors

Texas requires municipally owned water utilities to report water losses to the state and imposes administrative penalties for non-compliance.

Effective immediately
#citygovernment--utilities(i0068) #environmentalquality #texascommissionon(v0334) #utilities--water&sewer(i0002) #waterdevelopmentboard #texas(v2481) #water--conservation(i097l) #water--general(i0885)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 29

Legislative bill overview

HB 29 requires municipally owned water utilities in Texas to report water loss data to the Texas Water Development Board and establishes administrative penalties for non-compliance. The bill creates accountability mechanisms for utilities that fail to submit accurate water loss information, which is essential for tracking system efficiency and conservation efforts.

Why is this important

Water loss in municipal systems—caused by leaks, theft, and metering errors—represents a significant waste of a critical resource in Texas. Mandatory reporting with enforcement teeth helps identify problem areas, encourages infrastructure investment, and supports statewide water conservation and planning goals during periods of increasing demand and drought concerns.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance burden: Small municipal utilities may lack the technical capacity or staffing to conduct rigorous water loss audits and reporting, creating unfair disadvantages compared to larger systems
  • Penalty structure ambiguity: The bill authorizes administrative penalties but doesn't specify penalty amounts, thresholds, or appeal processes, potentially allowing inconsistent enforcement
  • Data confidentiality: Water loss reports may reveal vulnerable infrastructure details that could be exploited by bad actors if not properly protected from public disclosure

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.