SB 553

Flores Bill Drops 100,000-Person Minimum For Design-Build Water Projects

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

Why it's charged

The hole

THE TEXT

…“described by Subsection (a) to the extent practicable.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The existing design-build procurement requirements apply to the new water and wastewater methods only 'to the extent practicable,' so the entity using the method decides which safeguards to follow. The bill is mainly a grant of authority rather than a ban, so this is a soft spot, not a defeated promise.

The hole

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 design-build method for certain government construction projects.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

One firm designs and builds. The usual rules apply “to the extent practicable.”

The bill lets any Texas governmental entity use two more design-build contracting methods, fixed price and progressive design-build, to build or repair water and wastewater systems. It also drops the old rule that limited the civil-works design-build subchapter to entities serving more than 100,000 people, and it lets a whole water or wastewater system count as one project, covering plants, well fields, pump stations, storage and pipelines. Small cities, districts and other local bodies can now hire one firm to both design and build large water projects, and the usual subchapter procurement rules apply to these new methods only 'to the extent practicable.'

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 9, 2024 and referred to the Senate Business & Commerce committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB553 · 2024-12-09

SOLD BY

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

ITEM

relating to the design-build method for certain government construction projects.

WHAT IT DOES

One firm designs and builds. The usual rules apply “to the extent practicable.”

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“described by Subsection (a) to the extent practicable.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Dec 9, 2024Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Dec 9, 2024Filed
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Business & Commerce

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Pete Flores

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55KMorris Jaffe$25,000Justin Jaffe$25,000

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 12, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 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.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Morris Jaffe$25,000.00

Justin Jaffe$25,000.00

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 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.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

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 Dec 9, 2024

02/03/2025 S Referred to Business & Commerce

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

County Government--Land Use & Zoning

Purchasing--General

Utilities--Water & Sewer

CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING MATERIALS

CONTRACTORS & SUBCONTRACTORS

DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTS

Text

The text as introduced · 444 words

89R3447 CXP-F

By: Flores
S.B. No. 553

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the design-build method for certain government

construction projects.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2269, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 2269.3035 to read as follows:

Sec. 2269.3035. ALTERNATIVE DESIGN-BUILD METHODS FOR WATER

AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) A governmental entity may use

the following methods for the construction, rehabilitation,

alteration, or repair of water or wastewater infrastructure:

(1) a method in which a single fixed price for both

design and construction is established at the time the contract

with the design-build firm is signed by the parties, commonly known

as "fixed price design-build"; or

(2) a method in which the design-build firm is

involved early in the process of developing the design and the

contract includes a stepped payment scheme for design and

construction services, commonly known as "progressive

design-build."

(b) The requirements of this subchapter apply to a method

described by Subsection (a) to the extent practicable.

SECTION 2. Section 2269.352, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 2269.352. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to a

governmental entity , including [ that:

[ (1) has a population of more than 100,000 within the

entity's geographic boundary or service area; or

[ (2) is ] a board of trustees governed by Chapter 54,

Transportation Code.

SECTION 3. Section 2269.353(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) A contract for a project under this subchapter may cover

only a single integrated project. A governmental entity may not

enter into a contract for aggregated projects at multiple

locations. For purposes of this subsection:

(1) if a metropolitan transit authority created under

Chapter 451, Transportation Code, enters into a contract for a

project involving a linear transit project with multiple stops

along the project route for boarding passengers, created under

Chapter 451, Transportation Code, the linear transit project is a

single integrated project; and

(2) a water or wastewater infrastructure project

[ treatment plant ], including a desalination plant, that includes

treatment facilities, well fields, pump stations, water storage,

and pipelines , is a single integrated project.

SECTION 4. Subchapter H, Chapter 2269, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 2269.3535 to read as follows:

Sec. 2269.3535. ALTERNATIVE DESIGN-BUILD PROCEDURES FOR

WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) A governmental entity

may use a design-build method described by Section 2269.3035(a) for

the construction, rehabilitation, alteration, or repair of water or

wastewater infrastructure.

(b) The requirements of this subchapter apply to a method

described by Subsection (a) to the extent practicable.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.