Urgent Help Needed: Lake Houston Dredging District Bill Gets One Last Chance

The Texas Senate Local Government Committee will hear testimony on HB1532, the Lake Houston Dredging District bill, on Monday, May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day beginning at 9 AM.

Most people had given up on the bill and considered it effectively dead for this session. But when I checked this morning, there it was – on the agenda…for the holiday. So please help.

About the Bill

Rep. Charles Cunningham’s HB1532 would create a dredging and maintenance district for Lake Houston within Harris County. It would not have the power to impose taxes. But it could receive initial funding from the state legislature, and then raise additional money by selling the spoils from dredging operations for beneficial uses.

Such uses could include building the Ike Dike, raising homes out of floodplains, improving roads and more.

The Army Corps recommended forming such an entity for ongoing maintenance when it finished its Emergency West Fork Dredging Project after Harvey. It could finally become reality with your help.

How You Can Help

Given the holiday and late notice, it will be difficult for most people to testify in person at tomorrow’s hearing. But there’s another way to help.

Please thank Senator Bettencourt, the chair of the committee, and Senator Creighton, who sponsored a companion bill in the Senate.

Also email members of the committee NOW through their Senate web pages:

• Senator Paul Bettencourt (Chair)
• Senator Mayes Middleton
• Senator Molly Cook
• Senator Roland Gutierrez
• Senator Robert Nichols
• Senator Angela Paxton
• Senator Royce West

Key Points to Make

Subject Line: Please Support HB1532

Message:

• During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, 13,000 homes and almost half of all the businesses in the Lake Houston Area flooded. It didn’t have to be that bad. Sediment had built up for decades reducing the conveyance of tributaries.
• After the Army Corps finished its Emergency Dredging project, they recommended permanent maintenance dredging.
• HB1532 would enable that. It would reduce flood risk for thousands of homes and businesses – without raising taxes.
• It would also increase storage in Lake Houston, which provides water to 2 million people. And that number is growing rapidly.
• HB1532 is a strategic investment in the future growth of the Houston region. Please support it.

Thank you for taking the time! Please forward this post to everyone you know and ask for their help.

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