Opinion ID: 1376983
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Power to Apply the Law to Particular Individuals

Text: This factor weighs in favor of the delegation. The landowners have the power to create water quality plans and apply them to their property and to decide which municipal regulations are enforceable on their property. Again, these powers may affect particular individuals, such as neighboring landowners and downstream water users. But section 26.179 does not give the landowners the power to apply the law to particular individuals other than themselves and their successors in interest. See TEX. WATER CODE § 26.179(h) (The water quality plan for a zone shall be a covenant running with the land.). In Boll Weevil, this factor weighed against the delegation because of the foundation's power to directly apply the law to third parties. See Boll Weevil, 952 S.W.2d at 474. The foundation had the power to impose penalties for late payment and to enter private property for any purpose under the statute, including the treatment, monitoring, and destruction of crops. See Boll Weevil, 952 S.W.2d at 458. Here, the landowners have no power to apply the law to third parties other than their successors. See TEX. WATER CODE § 26.179(h). Therefore, we conclude that this factor weighs in favor of the delegation.