S.B. No. 971 amends the Texas Water Code by repealing the existing definition of a rural political subdivision as outlined in Section 15.001(14), which was previously added by S.B. 469 during the 88th Legislature. The bill aims to redefine what constitutes a rural political subdivision for the purposes of the Texas Water Assistance Program, although the specific new definition is not provided in the text.

The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the Texas Legislature. If it does not achieve this majority, the bill will take effect on September 1, 2025. The Senate passed the bill with a vote of 30-0, and the House approved it with a vote of 126-20, with two members present but not voting.