HB 2091 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the provision of financial assistance by the Texas Water Development Board for certain projects.

HB 2091 expands the Texas Water Development Board's ability to provide grants for water supply projects, including those with flood control components, to political subdivisions like cities, counties, and drainage districts. It specifically ensures drainage districts cannot be disqualified from receiving these grants due to lacking historical water use data, retail water service, or certain service certificates. The bill amends the Water Code to establish clear eligibility rules, removing barriers for drainage districts that historically couldn't qualify for such funding. This change directly affects local governments and drainage districts seeking financial assistance for water infrastructure projects starting September 1, 2025.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 14, 2025 Last action May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · May 2, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends the Texas Water Code to expand how the Water Development Board can provide financial assistance, particularly by allowing grants for projects in economically distressed areas and nonborder colonias. It also updates eligibility rules to prevent disqualification of drainage districts that lack certain historical data or certificates, and adds new prioritization criteria for project selection.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligible projects to include those serving economically distressed areas and nonborder colonias, and clarifies that drainage districts without retail water service certificates can still receive grants for water supply projects with flood control components.
ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for grants to projects supplying water and wastewater services in economically distressed areas or nonborder colonias.

Modified eligibility rules to prevent drainage districts from being disqualified if they lack historical water use data, retail water service, or a certificate of convenience and necessity.

REQUIREMENT

Added new prioritization criteria for the board when selecting projects, including local financial contribution, applicant financial capacity, emergency needs, and water conservation impact.

Modified project prioritization to include consideration of flood control components regardless of whether the applicant holds a retail service certificate.

TIMELINE

The effective date remains September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · House May 1, 2025

How they voted

10832
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 143
May 1, 2025
D Democratic57
56 Yea 1
98% Yea
R Republican86
52 Yea 32 Nay 2
60% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
9
Committee
7
Amendments
2
May 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
upper
May 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 1, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (108-32-3)
house
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
4 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors