Jason Isaac – State Representative

Rep. Isaac Incorporates Unprecedented Environmental Protection into MUD Legislation

Today, State Representative Jason Isaac was successful in adding important environmental provisions to the legislation creating the Needmore Ranch Municipal Utility District.  Rep. Isaac insisted on adding additional language to further protect the groundwater supply and spring flow in the Wimberley valley.  The new protections include:

• Eminent domain authority is expressly prohibited unless it is used for the sole purpose of importing surface water or non-local groundwater into the district.
• If the property is ever developed, the district must import water from outside the district to provide for the needs of any future residents.  This water must come from a source outside the Edwards or Trinity Aquifers.
• If the property is ever developed, the district must build a wastewater treatment facility in coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Hays County, and the City of Wimberley.
• Land may not be annexed unless petitioned by over two-thirds of the landowners within the area to be annexed.

This language offers unprecedented protection of our natural resources and provides assurances that the land will be managed responsibly.  The creation of this district requires the owner to meet strict standards and offers local residents peace of mind that the land will be preserved.

Without this MUD, the landowner could have subdivided his property into over 1,700 lots, each with their own well and their own septic system.  The new protections that were added eliminate the possibility of tapping or contaminating Wimberley valley’s scarce supply of groundwater.

Rep. Isaac said, “The primary concern about the proposed legislation centered around the availability of water in the Wimberley valley.  The amendment I filed today thoroughly addresses these concerns and ensures the continued protection of our area’s natural resources.  I appreciate the constructive suggestions I received from constituents and believe that the final language of this bill will provide a responsible framework for the future management of this property.”

UPDATE: The draft of the language of the bill I was working from was not publicly available and therefore no one would have known that eminent domain powers had been removed.  I apologize for any misunderstanding that this caused.  The major concerns regarding this legislation involve water conservation for the Wimberley valley, and I am continuing to work to preserve our natural resources while protecting private property rights.

In response to the attacks on our private property rights regarding a bill I filed that creates the Needmore Ranch Mud #1 between San Marcos and Wimberley I put the following letter together:

During one of his radio shows nearly forty years ago, Ronald Reagan warns of people and agencies of government that want to “tell you exactly what you can or can’t do with your land, including telling you there’s nothing you can do but pay the taxes and let it lay idle.”  He refers to this as “Land Planning” in the name of “environmentalism” and warns that it is “the greatest threat in 200 years to our traditional right to own property.”

That threat is being played out right now in the Wimberley valley of Hays County.  Local elected officials and other citizens against responsible development are waging a campaign against a landowner exercising his property rights in obtaining a Municipal Utility District (MUD).  MUDs have been used for years as an effective tool for responsible development.  Currently, the landowner has the ability to develop his land as he chooses.  Additionally, the landowner could currently sell the water on his land to the highest bidder, meaning that the water could leave the Wimberley area.  He currently has the right to subdivide his property into over 800 lots, each with their own well and their own septic system.  The creation of the Municipal Utility District gives us the opportunity to limit what can be done on the property to protect the natural resources should the property be developed.

The conservation and protection of natural resources in the area are important to me, and I believe that this MUD will help to ensure that the land is managed responsibly with an emphasis on conservation. Here’s why: there is language in the proposed bill that is not standard language for a MUD. The bill states that the district will “provide for the preservation and conservation of the natural resources within the district, while protecting private property rights to develop and beneficially use those resources in an organized and lawfully regulated manner.”

One elected official who opposes the MUD stated in a letter to Senator Campbell and me that, “there are broad powers of eminent domain currently in the legislation.”  It’s true that most MUDs have eminent domain authority.  However, the language I am working on would not allow the power of eminent domain unless that power is used to bring in surface water to serve any potential development.

Some emails I have received question how I could support a MUD for a landowner when I wouldn’t support a Municipal Management District (MMD) for Wimberley.  In the case of the MMD, one part of the affected residents wanted the right to tax all of the residents, whether they agreed to the tax or not.  In the case of the MUD, there are no taxes to be imposed on current residents, and any future residents (if developed) would be aware of any taxes or fees before choosing to move to the district.

I believe that people have a right to manage their own property within the limits of the law.  The public,  through government owned property, owns about 30% of the land in this country.  I’ll quote Reagan again, “If more is needed, we should do collectively exactly what we do individually. Go buy it!  What we must not do is give to ourselves collectively, in the name of government, rights we don’t possess as individuals.  We can have all of the open space and recreational land we need.  We don’t have the right to tell someone who owns a beach lot that he can’t build on it because we like the view as we drive by on the highway.  If the view is that important to us, we should buy it.”

We are all concerned about the preservation of our natural resources, and I believe the language of this bill allows for thoughtful management of this land in the future.   However, I will not waver when it comes to one of our most basic rights as Americans.

Thank you,

Jason Isaac
State Representative

As the Dripping Springs area continues to grow, a troubling trend is emerging.  While only 1,500 people live inside the city limits, the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is home to more than 20,000 residents.  With thousands of single-family homes, many children in public schools, and a lot of money spent in local businesses, the population in the ETJ makes up almost the city’s entire tax base.

Yet, because these citizens do not live within the city limits, they are unable to vote in the city elections that have a huge impact on the future of their community.  In fact, less than seven percent of the area’s population is eligible to vote.  This means that our City Council members, and the members of the Planning and Zoning Commission (whom the City Council appoints), are only held accountable to this small group of citizens.

This discrepancy has never been more apparent than it was in the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held on July 24^th.  The Commission considered granting a variance for a large, low-income apartment complex proposed for the Dripping Springs ETJ.  This development is heavily opposed by those who will be most affected by it, the residents of Ledge Stone, Heritage Oaks, Highpointe, and Belterra.

By my estimation, there were about 300 people who signed up or spoke in opposition of the complex, and petitions with thousands of signatures were also presented.  The Commission sat through hours of testimony from residents with valid concerns about the strain that this complex could place on our schools and county services.

Despite the overwhelming opposition, the Commission approved the variance.  One of the commissioners went so far as to berate the citizens in attendance who had taken time out of their evening to voice their opposition to a project that will greatly alter the community in which they live.  I can’t help but wonder whether or not this approval would have been granted if the many residents who are seriously concerned about this issue were able to vote in city elections.

Public input is an integral part of our democratic republic.  One of the greatest things about our country is our ability to make our voices heard, whether it’s through testimony at a public hearing or by exercising our right to vote for the elected officials who best represent our beliefs.  In the case of Dripping Springs, I worry that the ability of the minority to control the majority translates into taxation without representation.

The decision has now been passed on to the City Council, who will meet on August 14^th at 7:00 PM to consider the matter.  Regardless of your stance on this issue, I encourage you to attend this meeting and contribute to the discussion.

Rep. Isaac Passes Legislation to Protect Safe Sport Shooting Ranges from Frivolous Lawsuits

Release from the Texas State Rifle Association

Today, Senate Bill 766 by Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) passed the Texas House and is now headed to Governor Perry’s desk.

The Texas State Rifle Association sponsored Shooting Range Protection Act was authored by Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) in the Senate and Rep. Jason Isaac in the House.  This bill protects safe sport shooting ranges from frivolous lawsuits, while making it easier to shut down a dangerous range.

Rep. Isaac stated, “Having access to safe shooting ranges where CHL holders, hunters, and others can practice marksmanship is important to gun owners across the state.  This legislation will help to ensure that these ranges aren’t forced out of business because of groundless claims.  At the same time, it will prevent dangerous ranges from continuing to operate unlawfully.”
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AUSTIN, TX – Recently, Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) held the first meeting of the Hill Country Caucus at the Capitol.  The caucus, founded by Rep. Isaac, is a made up of a group of state legislators who are dedicated to promoting and preserving the unique features and resources of the Hill Country.

“As I met with constituents about the issues facing Texas and the Hill Country, I recognized the need for members to come together as a caucus,” Rep Isaac said.  “The Hill Country Caucus will be an open forum for members to share ideas and hear concerns from their peers on the issues that are most important to our area.”

The caucus will host distinguished speakers and will provide members and their staff information on issues affecting the region in order to work together for the benefit of the Hill Country throughout the legislative process.

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AUSTIN, TX – Today, State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) filed legislation to assist veterans in proving their status by adding a Veteran endorsement to the Texas driver’s license for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces.  Rep. Isaac  is a strong supporter of veterans’ rights and will be seeking a number of solutions during this legislative session to address issues facing veterans in Texas.

Rep. Isaac commented, “I have many veterans in my family, and it was recently brought to my attention that they often must carry their discharge form (DD-214) with them at all times in order to prove their status.  Many businesses, organizations, and events provide certain benefits to this honorable group of citizens and it seems unnecessary that this cumbersome form is the only proof of service that they currently have.  Adding a small endorsement to a veteran’s driver’s license is a common sense solution to this issue.”

The bill would allow a veteran to present their DD-214 form at the Department of Motor Vehicles and have a small endorsement added when renewing their license.

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Dripping Springs, Texas – Last night, at a Town Hall meeting in Hays County, State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) signed the Pledge with Texans, a roadmap for strengthening liberty in Texas through five core conservative priorities for the 82^nd legislative session.

Rep. Isaac stated, “Our state faces many challenges, and the Pledge with Texans is a plan of action that can help us revive the foundations of constitutional liberty in Texas. I am proud to stand with my fellow conservatives to make sure that Texas’ values and principles are upheld as the Legislature tackles the state’s major issues this session.”

The Pledge with Texans is the legislative agenda of the Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC), the conservative caucus of the Texas Legislature.  In signing the Pledge with Texans, Rep. Isaac joins Governor Rick Perry, Comptroller Susan Combs, and seventy-seven of his conservative colleagues in the Texas Legislature.

“Our first and most crucial order of business is to balance the state budget without raising taxes,” Rep. Isaac commented.  ”To rise to the challenge posed by the revenue shortfall, I will work to sharpen our focus on a few key priorities.  The state budget must be reduced, and rolling back bureaucracy is a good starting point.”

Rep. Isaac added, “It’s time for Texas to stand up and push back against an increasingly activist and radical federal government.  We must work to stop intrusions on our liberty and renew the independent spirit in our state.  Texas can manage our own affairs without unwanted and misguided direction from Washington D.C. bureaucrats.”

The TCC Pledge with Texans is the foundation for keeping Texas strong and prosperous by offering conservative solutions to the five most pressing issues that the next Legislature must address:

·         Balance the Budget without Raising Taxes
·         Limit Federal Intrusion
·         Improve Election Integrity
·         Cut Taxes
·         Secure the Texas Border

Rep. Isaac stated, “Conservative leadership over the past decade has made Texas the most successful state in the nation, validating our fundamental belief in restraining government while maximizing liberty.”

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State Representative Jason Isaac represents House District 45 in the Texas House of Representatives and is a member of the Texas Conservative Coalition, the conservative caucus of the Texas Legislature.

AUSTIN, TX – This week, State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) joined the newly established Hispanic Republican Conference (HRC), the Republican caucus of the Texas legislature that seeks to address the needs of the Hispanic community in our state.   The HRC will be the voice of Hispanics in Texas for the Republican Party and will provide information to colleagues on issues that are high priorities for this group of constituents.
Rep. Isaac stated, “With a large Hispanic constituency in my district, as well as in my family,  it is important that I am in tune with the specific needs of this community and that their views are well represented.  There is a misconception that all Hispanics in the state are Democrats, when often times, many of their beliefs and ideals are more closely associated with the principles of the Republican Party.  This group will provide an essential voice to a point of view that has been previously overlooked.”

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