Governor Abbott Vetoes House Bill 3060 (84R)
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 14, of the Texas Constitution, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove of and veto House Bill No. 3060 as passed by the Eighty-Fourth Texas Legislature, Regular Session, because of the following objections:
Local governments generally should have flexibility to respond to local concerns, including the need to conserve water. House Bill 3060 goes too far, however, by granting broad authority to local enforcement commissions to interfere with private property rights. Lawn-watering restrictions can already be enforced by fines. The additional enforcement authority provided by this bill would allow the government to insert itself too deeply into what a private property owner chooses to do on his or her own land. Local governments already have sufficient tools at their disposal to encourage their residents to use less water.
Since the Eighty-Fourth Texas Legislature, Regular Session, by its adjournment has prevented the return of this bill, I am filing these objections in the office of the Secretary of State and giving notice thereof by this public proclamation according to the aforementioned constitutional provision.
GREG ABBOTT
Governor
View a PDF of the veto here