Monitoring the Session

HB 3383

bill letting local governments team up on water research

Companion SB 480 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Terry CanalesDHouse 40

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to participate in water research or planning activities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Contracts with other locals, the state or the feds for water planning.

The bill adds a short section to the Interlocal Cooperation Act saying a local government may contract with another local government, the state, or the federal government to jointly do water research or planning. It touches cities, counties and other local governments that want to team up on water resources. On the ground it confirms authority to sign these joint water agreements, with no new duty, money or agency, effective immediately or on September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3383 · 2025-02-26

SOLD BY

Rep. Terry CanalesDHouse 40 Rep. Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to participate in water research or planning activities.

WHAT IT DOES

Contracts with other locals, the state or the feds for water planning.

The bill adds a short section to the Interlocal Cooperation Act saying a local government may contract with another local government, the state, or the federal government to jointly do water research or planning. It touches cities, counties and other local governments that want to team up on water resources. On the ground it confirms authority to sign these joint water agreements, with no new duty, money or agency, effective immediately or on September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Companion considered in lieu of SB 480
  16. Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Terry Canales

Donors

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$65KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35KCurtis E. Ford$30,605

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$65,000.00

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$65,000.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$65,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 6, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101072185.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101030306, 101068017, 101072185.

Curtis E. Ford$30,605.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$65,000.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$65,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 6, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101072185.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101030306, 101068017, 101072185.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses12
For
12
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • City of Denton1 registration
  • City of Garland, Texas1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • City of San Antonio1 registration
  • County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration
  • Leon County Judge and President of County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration
  • Mason1 registration
  • Methodist Healthcare Ministries1 registration
  • Parmer county1 registration
  • Polk County1 registration
  • Texas Rural Water Association1 registration
  • Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
Sources

12 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 28, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 26, 2025

05/14/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 480 by Perry (identical)

Subjects

City Government--General

County Government--General

Intergovernmental Relations

Water--Development

Water--General

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Text

The text as introduced · 154 words

89R4807 JBD-F

By: Canales
H.B. No. 3383

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an

interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to

participate in water research or planning activities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 791, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 791.038 to read as follows:

Sec. 791.038. CONTRACTS FOR WATER RESEARCH OR PLANNING. A

local government may contract with another local government, the

state, or the federal government to jointly participate in research

or planning activities related to water resources.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.