The bill, introduced by Senator Eckhardt, amends the Water Code to expand the definition of "flood project" under Section 15.531(2). It adds new categories of projects eligible for financing through the flood infrastructure fund, specifically including the construction of multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure that can manage various types of water, and the acquisition of primary residences located in a 100-year floodplain from willing sellers whose household income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The previous language that mentioned only nonstructural projects has been deleted.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision in Section 15.534, stating that certain regulatory requirements do not apply to flood projects that involve the acquisition of residences as described in the newly added subsection. This change aims to facilitate the implementation of flood mitigation strategies that directly assist vulnerable populations living in flood-prone areas. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 15.534 (Water Code 15)