The Most Underrated Emergency Item of the 89th Session

When most people hear “emergency item,” they think of bail reform or border security—not water. But this session, the most urgent and most overlooked emergency we faced was protecting Texas’ water supply. And for those of us in rural communities, nothing hits closer to home.

My family has farmed in Hill County since the late 1800s. I was raised to understand that water is life—life for our land, our livestock, our small towns, and our families. But make no mistake: without immediate action, that life is at risk.

Texas is growing fast, and our water supplies are drying up. The warning signs are everywhere—dropping aquifer levels, strained wells, and aging, failing infrastructure. If we had failed to pass the water legislation this session, the result would have been catastrophic. Rural communities like ours would face devastating water shortages, farms would struggle to survive, and entire towns could see their way of life disappear.

This is why I didn’t just vote for water infrastructure—I co-authored it. I helped lead the charge on House Joint Resolution 7, a generational investment designed to stop this looming disaster before it’s too late. I fought hard to make sure rural Texans were front and center in this fight and that we secured lasting solutions—not band-aids.

Thanks to Governor Abbott’s leadership—and support from legislators who understand what’s at stake—we passed Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7. Together, they provide critical, long-term funding to protect our water. SB 7 expands funding eligibility and creates accountability measures to ensure every dollar is well spent. HJR 7—of which I’m a proud co-author—would dedicate $1 billion per year to the Texas Water Fund, guaranteeing steady resources to fix broken systems, develop new supplies, and safeguard the aquifers that rural families depend on.

Texans must approve the constitutional amendment tied to HJR 7 this November. Your vote is the final piece to secure these protections for decades to come. Without it, this vital funding could disappear, leaving rural Texas vulnerable once again.

This fight isn’t just in Austin—it’s happening right here at home. This month, I joined Leon County Judge Byron Ryder and local leaders in formally protesting permit applications submitted to the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation Districts. These permits seek to withdraw large volumes of water from our shared aquifer—water that rural families and farmers depend on every day.

If approved, these withdrawals would lower aquifer levels, threaten private wells, and strain fragile rural water systems, putting our communities and livelihoods at serious risk. I sent a formal letter urging the districts to reject these applications and protect the long-term water security of Leon County and surrounding areas. Our aquifers are not a resource for outside exploitation—they are a vital legacy we must preserve.

This local fight highlights why the stakes couldn’t be higher. Whether it’s passing critical water funding through SB 7 and HJR 7 or defending our water resources here locally, I’m on the job—and I’ll keep fighting to protect the water that sustains us all.

Thank you for reading my weekly column! Make sure you stay connected and informed about the legislative process by calling our Capitol office at (512) 463-0600 or by following my social media page at www.facebook.com/AngeliaOrrForTX.

– Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr