During this year’s legislative session, Texas lawmakers allocated part of the state’s historic $32.7 billion surplus to better protect the state against droughts and floods — an investment that follows one of the hottest seasons ever. heat on record and the worst drought in a decade.
Climate change is bringing higher temperatures to Texas that are accelerating evaporation rates from reservoirs and dry land faster, meaning less water is flowing into rivers and streams. At the same time, rising temperatures and warmer oceans – which increase the amount of water in the air – increase the risk of heavy rain in Texas.
Significant flooding and extreme rainfall events more often follow droughts, according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment.
What did the Legislature change?
Texas lawmakers have allocated more than $2 billion this year to increase water supplies, repair failing water infrastructure and prevent flooding.
A billion dollars in surplus state money during this budget cycle will go to water supply and water infrastructure projects, if voters approve the idea this fall. Lawmakers also created new funds — the New Water Supply for Texas Fund and the Texas Water Fund — that determine how that money will be allocated.
The Legislature also appropriated $125 million to match federal water infrastructure money — meaning Texas agencies will be able to unlock more than $750 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The money will be used for several projects, such as replacing lead water pipes and removing water contamination from drinking water systems.
Another estimated $1 billion will go toward flood prevention. Lawmakers set aside a $550 million surplus for coastal barrier projects and the “Ike Dike,” a large gate system proposed for the mouth of Galveston Bay to protect the Houston area from storm surges. . Another $625 million in surplus money will go to Texas’ Flood Infrastructure Fund to fund flood control projects included in the state’s first flood plan.
Who is affected?
Texans across the state have been affected by reduced water supplies, damaged water infrastructure and flooding in their communities.
Leaky pipes and old treatment plants fueled by dwindling supplies, increased demand and extreme weather events prompt frequent alerts to boil water or avoid using it altogether. Power outages can also trigger such alerts (almost 15 million people had their water supply interrupted during the 2021 winter storm). And droughts can lead utilities to direct customers to reduce water use. For example, hundreds of utilities asked customers to cut back on water use last summer.
Texans are also no strangers to the devastating effects of floods. Hurricane Harvey caused $125 billion in damage, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in US history. The destroyed houses of many survivors have not been raised, rebuilt or repaired. Harris County, which includes Houston, has seen seven federally declared disasters due to severe weather in the past decade alone.
Who influenced the outcome?
State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, has long spearheaded water policy in the Legislature, and this year is no exception. He was most responsible for the terms and passage of Senate Bill 28 and Senate Joint Resolution 75, which would combine to create the Texas Water Fund and the New Water Supply for Texas Fund.
In the House, a bipartisan group of representatives created a new Texas House Water Caucus this year. It includes 38 members of the House and is led by Rep. State Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville, who brought the water bill to the House this year.
Several groups, including the Texas Water Conservation Association, the National Wildlife Federation and the Texas Water Foundation, advocate for investment in water infrastructure in Texas.
How much will it cost the Texans?
$1 billion is earmarked for water supply and water infrastructure, $125 million to get federal water infrastructure money, and more than $1 billion for “Ike Dike” and other flood control projects will be funded by a $32.7 billion Texas surplus.
Although a large investment, money for water infrastructure and flood mitigation represents a drop in the bucket compared to the state’s needs. For example, Texas may need more than $38 billion just to begin flood prevention, according to early proposals for a statewide flood plan that is still in development.
What alternatives were considered?
The House tried to ensure that part of the $1 billion for water infrastructure would be prioritized for economically distressed areas, including the colonias, which are small communities especially along the Texas-Mexico border.
But that proposal was rejected by the senators who negotiated the final language of the bills – a huge loss for people living in the colonies, who often lack basic services such as water and sewage. An estimated 2,300 colonies exist along the borders of El Paso, Hidalgo, Maverick, Starr, Webb and Cameron counties.
Texas senators want to limit the use of the New Water Supply for Texas Fund to finance desalination plants, projects to import water from other states, and build treatment facilities in the water. House members want to give the Texas Water Development Board, which administers the funds, more flexibility in how to allocate the $1 billion. The final language left out water imports from other states and added aquifer storage to the list, but it did not prevent the agency from allocating money to other types of projects.
Lawmakers floated allocating $3 billion for water supply and water infrastructure funds, but budget negotiators ultimately settled on $1 billion.
What’s next?
Texas voters have a chance to approve or reject the appropriation of $1 billion and creation of the Texas Water Fund in November through a constitutional amendment. If approved by voters, the fund would be created on January 1, 2024.
The New Water Supply For Texas Fund will take effect on Sept.
Money for flood mitigation projects is tied to the state budget: Comptroller Glenn Hegar must certify that the budget is balanced, as required by the state constitution. Then, Governor Greg Abbott has until June 18 to remove any spending line from the budget.
The state’s first flood plan, which will dictate which projects are prioritized for flood mitigation money, is due to the Legislature in September 2024.
Alejandra Martinez contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/texas-legislature-water-supply-flood-funding-infrastructure/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom that informs and engages Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Photo: A car sits on a railroad track overlooking the flooded South Mesquite River on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, in Mesquite, Texas. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
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Texas Flood Legislation