| 2 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | relating to an interim study on water resources development in |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | certain counties. |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | SECTION 1. In order to engage in a scientific inquiry and |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | analysis regarding current and projected groundwater production |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | and to assess the effects of that production on groundwater |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | conditions, the Executive Administrator of the Texas Water |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | Development Board shall, for Region M--including Cameron, Hidalgo, |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | Jim Hogg, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | Counties--undertake the necessary evaluations. |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | (1) compile and evaluate current data on groundwater |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | levels, aquifer characteristics, and groundwater use and |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | production; |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | (2) fully assess the effects of current and projected |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | groundwater production on groundwater conditions; |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | (3) establish a framework for analyzing state agency data to |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | enable policymakers and agency leadership to make informed, |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | real-time decisions regarding water resource management, financial |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | allocations, and contracting; |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | (4) develop and implement predictive models to enhance the |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | allocation of state resources, forecast water supply trends, and |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | guide policy decisions that support water sustainability; |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | (5) identify, prevent, and mitigate potential fraudulent |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | transactions or inefficiencies in financial and contractual |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | processes associated with water infrastructure, permitting, and |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | management; |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | (6) assess and demonstrate the effectiveness of state and |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | federal funding mechanisms in addressing water management |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | challenges through advanced data analytics; |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | (7) conduct a performance review of existing state-funded |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | water management and conservation programs to determine |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and impact; |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | (8) Enhance public access to water resource data and agency |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | policies by creating standardized, user-friendly reporting |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | mechanisms, incorporating clear visual representations and |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | interactive tools for better comprehension. |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2026, the executive |
|---|
| 43 | 45 | | administrator of the Texas Water Development Board shall: |
|---|
| 44 | 46 | | (1) complete the compilation, evaluation, and |
|---|
| 45 | 47 | | assessment of data described by Section 1 of this Act; |
|---|
| 46 | 48 | | (2) prepare a report of the findings of the |
|---|
| 47 | 49 | | compilation, evaluation, and assessment; |
|---|
| 48 | 50 | | (3) submit the report to each standing committee of |
|---|
| 49 | 51 | | the legislature having primary jurisdiction over water |
|---|
| 50 | 52 | | development; and |
|---|
| 51 | 53 | | (4) make copies of the report available to the public. |
|---|
| 52 | 54 | | SECTION 3. This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
|---|