Texas lawmakers are gearing up for another legislative session focused on bolstering the state's water infrastructure and supply. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has named 'Increasing Investments in Texas’ Water Supply' as one of his top priorities, signaling a strong push for legislation in this area. The Texas Water Caucus, launched last session, is also actively working towards similar goals. Building on last year's bipartisan success in securing a billion-dollar investment in water infrastructure and development, lawmakers are aiming for even more substantial funding in the coming session.
On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick named 'Increasing Investments in Texas’ Water Supply ' as one of his top priorities for the legislative session, bolstering the likelihood of the passage of such legislation. The Texas Water Caucus, launched last session, is also working toward the passage of similar policies.
Last year, a sweeping bipartisan coalition of Texas lawmakers approved a plan that would invest a billion dollars in the state's water infrastructure and development, which was overwhelmingly supported by voters. In this session, those lawmakers want to go even further. \ 'We're at a critical stage when it comes to water in Texas,' Representative Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, who is in the Water Caucus and represents much of Lake Travis, said in an interview. 'We have to think critically about not just catching up to where we need to be for today's growth, but also being more proactive and preparing for the future.' Though the legislation has not been filed officially, Troxclair said the policy is expected to be put forward by Senator Charles Perry, who chairs the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. By her description, the legislation, which is expected to be Senate Bill 7, would take a portion of the existing sales tax and dedicate it toward water infrastructure. Notedly, the bill would not implement a new tax, according to Troxclair, but would reallocate the existing sales tax. 'As Texas continues to grow, we must take bold steps to ensure our water supply meets the needs of future generations,' Senator Perry wrote in a social media post last week. 'That’s why I’ve proposed a multibillion-dollar plan to address our state’s water shortages. This plan is designed to provide long-term solutions that protect our communities, strengthen our industries, and support Texas' thriving population.' \ According to recent self-reported audits, Texas cities lost as much as 88 billion gallons of water in 2023, the most recent data available. In Austin, alone, every Austinite lost an estimated 22 gallons of water every day. As many as 7.7 million Texans live in a drought, according to theWhile the push is bipartisan, there are differing proposals for how the state should invest in water development and infrastructure, particularly over the topic of conservation. 'This session, we'll focus on new water sources, which can be very expensive,' Representative Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, who represents the other portion of Lake Travis, said in a press conference earlier this month. 'These projects are important, but at the same time conservation, reuse, and fixing leaky pipes can be less expensive, and just as important, costs for water projects will be passed on to consumers, so we should focus on less expensive projects
TEXAS POLITICS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION WATER SUPPLY CONSERVATION DROUGHTS
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