We just got a release from GEAA that SB848 was passed out of committee yesterday instead of going through public hearing tomorrow as was scheduled. Even though Sen. Madla has expressed "disappointment" with the bill, he sure seems eager for it to be passed. Rep. Villareal is proposing an amendment that will put some of the power back in the community's hands.

All after the jump.

Full press release:

DEVELOPER DREAM BILL COMPROMISES COMMUNITY WATER RIGHTS
Community groups and coalition supporters call on Senator Madla to amend faulty water bill

TEXAS- In response to opposition by community groups and environmentalists, a second public hearing for Senate Bill 848 was set for Wednesday April 6th in Senator Frank Madlaâ??s Intergovernmental Relations committee. On Monday Senator Madla changed his mind and called for an immediate vote at his desk eliminating public comment and any witness to the votes.

Senate Bill 848 is a developerâ??s dream bill that focuses on granting more powers to developers to evade water pollution regulations and may even dispense with the need to file a permit application for a project in order to obtain rights to grandfathered or obsolete regulations. In addition Senate Bill 848 would allow a developer to freeze city regulations merely by getting a utility to agree to provide water, sewer or electricity service to the property, which is regularly granted without any consideration of existing regulations.

â??If this bill passes the state is effectively removing the tools that local communities need in order to reflect the wishes of their citizens.â?? Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Executive Director Annalisa Peace said. â??Communities should be empowered to maintain and preserve their quality of life. There must be a balance between legitimate vested rights and the needs of the community.â??

Senator Madla has stated he was disappointed in the bill and would like to change it to reflect the needs of his constituents. Currently State Representative Mike Villarreal has offered an amendment that gives cities and local communities authority to protect their water resources.

"There are multiple counties that rely on the quality of the Edwards Aquifer,â?? said state Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio â??So it's important that each and every local government has a tool to use in case their drinking water is going to be polluted."

Villarreal and Peace acknowledged that landowners have the right to develop their property.

"But that right stops," Villarreal said, "when it comes to polluting the drinking water of the community."

The proposed amendment:

Amendment to SB 848 proposed by the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance.

Amend S.B 848 as follows:
On page 2, after line 14, insert the following:
â??SECTION 3. Section 245.004 us amended to add the
following subsection (12):
(12) regulations found by a political subdivision to be necessary to protect clean and safe drinking water or to prevent degradation of water quality of an aquifer that serves as a source of drinking water.â??
On line 15, omit â??3â?? and replace with â??4â??.