Senate Bill No. 1624 amends the Texas Water Code to expand the purposes for which the Texas Water Bank and the Texas Water Trust can accept and hold water rights. The bill allows the board to accept donations of water rights specifically for conservation and environmental needs, which include instream flow, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and bay and estuary inflow needs. Additionally, it establishes the Texas Water Trust within the water bank to hold water rights dedicated to these same conservation and environmental objectives.

The amendments include the insertion of new language that emphasizes the importance of conservation and environmental needs in the management of water rights. Specifically, the bill replaces the term "flows" with "flow" and removes the term "inflows" from the existing law, thereby clarifying the focus on instream flow and other environmental considerations. This legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Parks and Wildlife Code 12.028, Water Code 15.703, Water Code 15.7031 (Water Code 15, Parks and Wildlife Code 12)
Senate Committee Report: Water Code 15.703, Water Code 15.7031 (Water Code 15, Parks and Wildlife Code 12)
Engrossed: Water Code 15.703, Water Code 15.7031 (Water Code 15, Parks and Wildlife Code 12)