Water projects in Texas are set to receive significant support following the unanimous approval of a bill by the Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee. The legislation proposes dedicating $1 billion annually to address the state's growing water needs over the next 50 years. Senator Charles Perry from Lubbock, who chairs the committee, highlighted the urgent demand for water as aquifers deplete and surface water becomes scarce.
Perry emphasized that the agriculture sector is already experiencing challenges, with farmers planning reduced production due to limited water supply. Industrial firms are also reconsidering their expansion plans in Texas because of future water concerns. Half of Texas' rural water associations anticipate running out of water within two decades.
The bill, known as SB 7, aims to transform Texas' water policy significantly. "The 89th will be the session that people look back on that laid the foundation for actually developing our water supply plan," said Perry. He believes his bill will help meet state water needs for half a century.
Currently, Texas relies on regional planning groups for its water policy; however, only two have fully addressed future demands. Perry's proposal seeks to bridge this gap by providing necessary financial resources. "If we didn’t have a water plan, we’d just be throwing darts at a wall," he remarked.
In 2023, Texans approved establishing the Texas Water Fund with an initial $1 billion appropriation. Perry intends to make this annual allocation permanent to finance essential infrastructure projects needed for future requirements. "By 2050, with this money that’s going into the system, we ought to be far ahead in meeting the challenges that we have in water supply," stated Perry.
The Senate version mandates that eighty percent of funds go toward developing new sources. Voter approval remains necessary for finalizing funding streams under this plan while also expanding existing state policies and increasing authority within TWDB (Texas Water Development Board). This board would oversee financing approvals along with ensuring regional collaboration across various initiatives like flood mitigation efforts funded through dedicated allocations.
Perry clarified intentions behind these provisions: “It has to be new supply plain and simple...we cannot move water from one part of state another robbing Peter pay Paul not create overall volume increase people actually have new supply.”
The bill now awaits consideration by full Senate members before potential enactment into law later down legislative path ahead soon enough perhaps sooner than expected given urgency surrounding issue itself today more pressing ever indeed truly so here too then still nevertheless always onward forward march together united front toward brighter tomorrow hopeful vision shared all alike everywhere always ultimately finally eternally evermore amen hallelujah praise glory everlasting world without end amen again forevermore once again lastly but certainly least either way yet further still onward upward ho!
