Governor Abbott signed the state budget last Saturday. Spending increased from Texas’ last budget by 16%, with this budget authorizing some $250 billion in expenditures. While he did not veto any budget line items, Abbott announced a host of vetoed bills.

State Representative Dade Phelan of Orange County was kind enough to forecast this year’s session for WEAT members way back in November 2018, at our Water Environment Horizon Conference. He previewed his plans for a new statewide flood infrastructure plan, and new spending to encourage disaster resilience, all of which became components of the legislative response to Hurricane Harvey that passed this session. For his work he was recognized in Texas Monthly’s Best-of list for this year’s session.

The Texas Water Development Board will hold a meeting on June 24, at 9:30 am. On the agenda are wastewater plant improvements in Cleburne and Port Arthur, among many other items. The meeting can be streamed live on the TWDB’s website.

Public outcry meant extra testing of the treated biosolids applied as fertilizer onsite at Waxahachie High School. Testing beyond the TCEQ standards showed them to be “free of any harmful contaminants.”

Congratulations to Mehaa Amirthalingam, our fellow Texan, who received the James L. Condon Recognition for Environmental Stewardship at this year’s Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

Austin Water will host a Water Reuse Workshop on June 25 for developers, homeowners, and anyone involved in the home-building process.