BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 795 89R138 ANG-F By: Alvarado Natural Resources 4/11/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The Texas Legislature has made significant policy and financial commitments to the development of two large infrastructure projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coastal Texas Program, and the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Program. The 87th Legislature also created the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) as a partner on those projects. Currently, GCPD receives state-appropriated dollars through the General Land Office to perform administrative, pre-engineering, and design services. As a non-federal sponsor, the district also matches federal funds for applicable projects. S.B. 795 seeks to create the Gulf Coast Protection Account for the payment of expenditures for the development of infrastructure necessary or useful for protecting the gulf coast within GCPD's territory. S.B. 795 is engaging support by Gulf Coast Protection District, surrounding municipalities, impacted businesses, and economic development advocacy organizations. As proposed, S.B. 795 amends current law relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Natural Resources Code, by adding Section 31.070, as follows: Sec. 31.070. GULF COAST PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the gulf coast protection account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund administered by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) under this section and rules adopted by GLO. (b) Provides that the gulf coast protection account consists of money from gifts, donations, and grants and money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the account by the legislature. (c) Provides that money in the gulf coast protection account is authorized to be used only to pay for expenditures that: (1) are necessary to fulfill nonfederal sponsor obligations under agreements with the United States Army Corps of Engineers for implementing projects included in the plan recommended by the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study Final Report and Final Environmental Impact Statement dated August 2021 issued by the Galveston District, Southwestern Division, of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and GLO; (2) comply with the terms of a local cooperation agreement executed by GLO and the Gulf Coast Protection District (district) established under Chapter 9502 (Gulf Coast Protection District), Special District Local Laws Code; and (3) are for projects that are necessary or useful for the protection of the portion of the gulf coast located within the territory of the district or would benefit the district and are designated as Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects within the Coastal Texas Study. (d) Provides that the legislature finds that the expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection account in accordance with Subsection (c) serves a public purpose. (e) Provides that the expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection account is subject to audit by the state auditor. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 795
89R138 ANG-F By: Alvarado
Natural Resources
4/11/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 795
89R138 ANG-F
By: Alvarado
Natural Resources
4/11/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Legislature has made significant policy and financial commitments to the development of two large infrastructure projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coastal Texas Program, and the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Program. The 87th Legislature also created the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) as a partner on those projects.
Currently, GCPD receives state-appropriated dollars through the General Land Office to perform administrative, pre-engineering, and design services. As a non-federal sponsor, the district also matches federal funds for applicable projects.
S.B. 795 seeks to create the Gulf Coast Protection Account for the payment of expenditures for the development of infrastructure necessary or useful for protecting the gulf coast within GCPD's territory.
S.B. 795 is engaging support by Gulf Coast Protection District, surrounding municipalities, impacted businesses, and economic development advocacy organizations.
As proposed, S.B. 795 amends current law relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Natural Resources Code, by adding Section 31.070, as follows:
Sec. 31.070. GULF COAST PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the gulf coast protection account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund administered by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) under this section and rules adopted by GLO.
(b) Provides that the gulf coast protection account consists of money from gifts, donations, and grants and money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the account by the legislature.
(c) Provides that money in the gulf coast protection account is authorized to be used only to pay for expenditures that:
(1) are necessary to fulfill nonfederal sponsor obligations under agreements with the United States Army Corps of Engineers for implementing projects included in the plan recommended by the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study Final Report and Final Environmental Impact Statement dated August 2021 issued by the Galveston District, Southwestern Division, of the United States Army Corps of Engineers and GLO;
(2) comply with the terms of a local cooperation agreement executed by GLO and the Gulf Coast Protection District (district) established under Chapter 9502 (Gulf Coast Protection District), Special District Local Laws Code; and
(3) are for projects that are necessary or useful for the protection of the portion of the gulf coast located within the territory of the district or would benefit the district and are designated as Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects within the Coastal Texas Study.
(d) Provides that the legislature finds that the expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection account in accordance with Subsection (c) serves a public purpose.
(e) Provides that the expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection account is subject to audit by the state auditor.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.