Bexar Metropolitan Water District v. City of Bulverde
The City of Bulverde and the Guadalupe-Bianco River Authority (GBRA) sought declaratory judgments in Comal County District Court to determine the boundaries and service authority of Bexar Metropolitan Water District (BexarMet). BexarMet filed a plea to the jurisdiction, arguing the district court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction, which was denied. On appeal, BexarMet contended that the Texas Water Code prohibits challenges to its boundaries by third parties, Bulverde and GBRA lacked standing, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had exclusive or primary jurisdiction, and GBRA did not qualify as a 'person' under the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act. The appellate court affirmed the district court's denial of BexarMet's plea to the jurisdiction, finding that Bulverde and GBRA were not challenging the validity of BexarMet's boundaries but rather seeking clarification of statutory meaning and authority, had standing as affected parties, and that the Commission did not have exclusive or primary jurisdiction over statutory interpretation. Furthermore, GBRA qualified as a 'person' under the UDJA.