The bill proposes a significant change to the governance of the Texas Water Development Board by requiring its members to be elected by qualified voters during general elections, rather than being appointed by the governor. The amendments to Section 6.052 of the Water Code reflect this shift, changing the heading to indicate "ELECTION" instead of "APPOINTMENT" and specifying that the board will consist of 16 members elected from their respective regional water planning areas. Additional amendments clarify eligibility criteria for board members, emphasizing that they must have experience in engineering, finance, or law/business, and outlining grounds for removal from the board.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a timeline for the first election of board members under this new structure, set for November 2026, and details the process for determining the length of terms for the newly elected members. The act will take effect on September 1, 2025, contingent upon the approval of a related constitutional amendment by voters. If the amendment is not approved, the bill will have no effect.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 6.052, Water Code 6.053, Water Code 6.054, Water Code 6.056, Water Code 6.059, Water Code 6.062 (Water Code 6)