In their work session Tuesday, the City Council heard a briefing on the upcoming legislative session from Chief of Staff for the City Manager, Ashley Nystrom. She highlighted a few issues to keep an eye on, including any bill that might affect the water quality in Lake Waco.
"We are not going to be caught flat-footed in the case legislation is filed," Nostrum said. "We want to maintain the strength of the individual permit in our watershed."
Last session, a bill was introduced in the House that would have made it much easier for new dairy farms to move upstream, leaving some worried about the stability of Waco’s water supply.
Mayor Jim Holmes said this bill caught them off guard last year, but they will be more proactive this session.
"Last time around, we got kind of a sneak attack on us," Holmes said. "But this time we’re being super proactive – I mean this started months ago."
The council also plans to apply for funding grants for a project with the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and a new tourism designation for the city, which would include the opportunity for more state funding.
Bill filing for the 2025 session opened in November and almost 2,000 bills have already been filed. The 2025 session begins January 14, 2025.
