BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3915 By: Martinez Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that Hidalgo County, Cameron County, and Willacy County have experienced drought conditions and water supply issues for decades and are currently under a disaster declaration due to the ongoing drought, which is negatively impacting important industries that contribute to the South Texas economy. The bill author has further informed the committee that the Delta Region Water Management Project aims to address these water supply issues through capturing and treating water from a drainage district but that the project requires funding assistance. H.B. 3915 seeks to provide for the funding of certain multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure projects under the flood infrastructure fund managed by the Texas Water Development Board by including those projects within the definition of "flood project." CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 3915 amends the Water Code to specify that, for purposes of the flood infrastructure fund, a flood project includes construction of multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure projects that control, divert, capture, or impound floodwater, stormwater, agricultural runoff water, or treated wastewater effluent and treat and distribute the water for the purpose of creating an additional source of water supply. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3915
By: Martinez
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 3915
By: Martinez
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that Hidalgo County, Cameron County, and Willacy County have experienced drought conditions and water supply issues for decades and are currently under a disaster declaration due to the ongoing drought, which is negatively impacting important industries that contribute to the South Texas economy. The bill author has further informed the committee that the Delta Region Water Management Project aims to address these water supply issues through capturing and treating water from a drainage district but that the project requires funding assistance. H.B. 3915 seeks to provide for the funding of certain multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure projects under the flood infrastructure fund managed by the Texas Water Development Board by including those projects within the definition of "flood project."
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 3915 amends the Water Code to specify that, for purposes of the flood infrastructure fund, a flood project includes construction of multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure projects that control, divert, capture, or impound floodwater, stormwater, agricultural runoff water, or treated wastewater effluent and treat and distribute the water for the purpose of creating an additional source of water supply.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that Hidalgo County, Cameron County, and Willacy County have experienced drought conditions and water supply issues for decades and are currently under a disaster declaration due to the ongoing drought, which is negatively impacting important industries that contribute to the South Texas economy. The bill author has further informed the committee that the Delta Region Water Management Project aims to address these water supply issues through capturing and treating water from a drainage district but that the project requires funding assistance. H.B. 3915 seeks to provide for the funding of certain multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure projects under the flood infrastructure fund managed by the Texas Water Development Board by including those projects within the definition of "flood project."
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 3915 amends the Water Code to specify that, for purposes of the flood infrastructure fund, a flood project includes construction of multi-purpose flood mitigation and drainage infrastructure projects that control, divert, capture, or impound floodwater, stormwater, agricultural runoff water, or treated wastewater effluent and treat and distribute the water for the purpose of creating an additional source of water supply.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.