SB 2123
Zaffirini Desalination Bill Opens State Money To Border Counties Over 250,000
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Bracket bill
THE TEXT
…“a county with a population greater than 250,000 located:”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Stacked descriptors limit the bill to very few counties: more than 250,000 people, on an international border, and in a management area with no groundwater district inside the county. The caption does admit the bill covers only "certain counties," which lowers the concern.
Bracket billInitial 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 the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance to certain counties for brackish water desalination.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Plus a groundwater management area with no district inside the county. Very few qualify.
The bill lets the Texas Water Development Board give financial help for brackish water desalination to certain counties, even where another part of the same Water Code section would otherwise stand in the way. It reaches only a county with more than 250,000 people that sits on an international border and lies in a groundwater management area with no groundwater conservation district inside the county. On the ground, a qualifying border county could get state water board money for desalination projects starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 129 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 129 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2123 · 2025-03-10
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the authority of the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance to certain counties for brackish water desalination.
WHAT IT DOES
Plus a groundwater management area with no district inside the county. Very few qualify.
The bill lets the Texas Water Development Board give financial help for brackish water desalination to certain counties, even where another part of the same Water Code section would otherwise stand in the way. It reaches only a county with more than 250,000 people that sits on an international border and lies in a groundwater management area with no groundwater conservation district inside the county. On the ground, a qualifying border county could get state water board money for desalination projects starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%
THE TEXT
…“a county with a population greater than 250,000 located:”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Stacked descriptors limit the bill to very few counties: more than 250,000 people, on an international border, and in a management area with no groundwater district inside the county. The caption does admit the bill covers only "certain counties," which lowers the concern.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“the board may provide financial assistance for brackish water desalination to a county”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill opens state water board financial help for desalination to a narrowly described set of counties.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025
03/24/2025 S Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 3898 by Raymond (identical)
Subjects
Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Environment--Water
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility
State Finances--Management & Control
Water--Development
Water--General
WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 129 words
89R13221 ANG-F By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2123 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance to certain counties for brackish water desalination. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 16.053, Water Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j-1) to read as follows: (j-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (j), the board may provide financial assistance for brackish water desalination to a county with a population greater than 250,000 located: (1) on an international border; and (2) wholly or partly in a management area, as defined by Section 36.001, that does not have a groundwater conservation district that is located inside the county's boundaries. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.