bill creates groundwater science fund at Water Development Board

The text as introduced · 712 words

89R4449 ANG-F

By: Kolkhorst, Johnson
S.B. No. 718

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creation of the groundwater science, research, and

innovation fund to be administered by the Texas Water Development

Board.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 15, Water Code, is amended by adding

Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F-1. GROUNDWATER SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND INNOVATION FUND

Sec. 15.421. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "District" means a groundwater conservation

district created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59,

Article XVI, Texas Constitution, that has the authority to regulate

the spacing of wells producing from groundwater reservoirs in the

district and regulate the production from those wells.

(2) "Fund" means the groundwater science, research,

and innovation fund.

Sec. 15.422. GROUNDWATER SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND INNOVATION

FUND. (a) The groundwater science, research, and innovation fund

is a special fund in the state treasury to be administered by the

board under this subchapter and rules adopted by the board under

this subchapter.

(b) The fund consists of:

(1) money appropriated for transfer or deposit to the

credit of the fund;

(2) money the board transfers to the fund from any

available source;

(3) depository interest allocable to the fund and

other investment returns on money in the fund;

(4) money from gifts, grants, or donations to the

fund; and

(5) any other fees or sources of revenue that the

legislature may dedicate for deposit to the fund.

Sec. 15.423. USE OF FUND. (a) The board may use the fund

only to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to

finance district programs and projects that will further

groundwater science, research, and innovation in this state,

including local research, data, modeling, and innovative programs

and projects designed to:

(1) improve understanding of local groundwater

conditions;

(2) develop or improve groundwater models relied on

for planning and decision-making;

(3) improve groundwater use efficiency and increase

water conservation efforts;

(4) increase groundwater recharge; or

(5) protect groundwater quality.

(b) The fund may be used for any purpose described by

Subsection (a) under criteria developed by the board.

Sec. 15.424. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. The board shall adopt

rules necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules

establishing procedures for the application for and award of

financial assistance, the distribution of financial assistance,

and the administration of financial assistance and the fund.

Sec. 15.425. EVALUATION OF APPLICATION. (a) When

evaluating an application for financial assistance from a district,

the board shall consider:

(1) the expected benefit of the program or project in

informing the management, planning, or decision-making of the

district;

(2) whether the program or project meets any science,

data, and modeling objectives of the board;

(3) the extent to which the program's or project's

outcome may benefit the state and regional water planning processes

under Sections 16.051 and 16.053; and

(4) the district's need for financial assistance based

on the district's available revenue or other sources of financial

assistance available to the district.

(b) The board by resolution may approve an application if,

after considering the factors listed in Subsection (a) and other

relevant factors, the board finds that the public interest is

served by state assistance for the program or project and the

district has met the matching funds requirement under Section

15.426.

(c) The board shall ensure that a district that receives

financial assistance for a program or project provides the board

with all data, science, and other research findings gathered

through the implementation of the program or project for which the

district received financial assistance.

(d) The board shall ensure that at least 35 percent of the

money transferred from the fund is used to fund programs or projects

by districts with:

(1) populations of not more than 100,000; and

(2) annual revenues of not more than $250,000, as

determined at the close of the previous fiscal year.

Sec. 15.426. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED. The board by rule may

require a district that is the recipient of a grant using money from

the fund to provide matching funds, which may include direct

expenditures or in-kind services related to the program or project,

in an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.