The bill amends the Water Code to enhance the oversight and financing of water infrastructure projects managed by the Texas Water Development Board. Key changes include expanding the types of projects eligible for funding from the water supply fund to include potable water reuse projects and infrastructure for transporting water from newly developed sources. It also introduces provisions for facilitating water transactions, such as establishing regional water banks and allowing the purchase of water rights from outside the state for local use. Additionally, the structure and responsibilities of the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee are modified, increasing its membership and specifying member roles, while mandating semiannual reviews of fund operations.

Moreover, the bill establishes a water access assessment to identify utilities at risk of failure, requiring assessments every ten years, and creates a water access assessment account to support this initiative. It also mandates the board to maintain a public information tool on its website to track progress on water supply projects and utility statuses. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, pending voter approval of a related constitutional amendment. Overall, these amendments aim to improve the management and development of Texas's water resources in response to increasing demands.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 15.153, Water Code 15.502, Water Code 15.504, Water Code 15.703, Water Code 16.131, Water Code 15.431 (Water Code 15, Water Code 16)