S.B. No. 469
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of certain political subdivisions to
receive certain financial assistance administered by the Texas
Water Development Board.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 15.001, Water Code, is amended by adding
Subdivision (14) to read as follows:
(14) "Rural political subdivision" means:
(A) a nonprofit water supply or sewer service
corporation created and operating under Chapter 67 of this code or a
district or authority created under Section 52, Article III, or
Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, no part of the service
area of which is located in an urban area with a population of more
than 50,000;
(B) a municipality:
(i) with a population of 10,000 or less part
of the service area of which is located in an urban area with a
population of 50,000 or more; or
(ii) located wholly in a county in which no
urban area has a population of more than 50,000;
(C) a county in which no urban area has a
population of more than 50,000; or
(D) an entity that:
(i) is a nonprofit water supply or sewer
service corporation created and operating under Chapter 67 of this
code, a district or authority created under Section 52, Article
III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, a
municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the state,
or an interstate compact commission to which the state is a party;
and
(ii) demonstrates in a manner satisfactory
to the board that the entity is rural or the area to be served by the
project is a wholly rural area despite not otherwise qualifying
under Paragraph (A), (B), or (C).
SECTION 2. Section 15.434(b), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) Of the money disbursed from the fund during the
five-year period between the adoption of a state water plan and the
adoption of a new plan, the board shall undertake to apply not less
than:
(1) 10 percent to support projects described by
Section 15.435 that are for:
(A) rural political subdivisions [as defined by
Section 15.992]; or
(B) agricultural water conservation; and
(2) 20 percent to support projects described by
Section 15.435, including agricultural irrigation projects, that
are designed for water conservation or reuse.
SECTION 3. Section 17.001, Water Code, is amended by adding
Subdivision (26) to read as follows:
(26) "Rural political subdivision" has the meaning
assigned by Section 15.001.
SECTION 4. Section 17.9615(a), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The board may direct the comptroller to transfer amounts
from the financial assistance account to the rural water assistance
fund to provide financial assistance to rural political
subdivisions under this subchapter for the purposes provided in
Section 15.994.
SECTION 5. Section 15.992(4), Water Code, is repealed.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 469 passed the Senate on
April 27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 469 passed the House on
May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 118, Nays 20, one
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor