US EditionLawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritize
- On Monday afternoon, Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Charles Perry , passed unanimously through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs .
- Texas lawmakers are planning to ask voters to approve dedicating a billion dollars in future state sales tax annually to the Texas Water Fund for new water projects, as water has been declared an emergency item by Gov. Greg Abbott .
- The proposed legislation, including Senate Joint Resolution 66 and House Joint Resolution 7, aims to address Texas' looming water crisis, with a Texas Tribune analysis suggesting a severe water shortage by 2030 if strategies aren't implemented .
- A key debate centers on whether to prioritize creating new water supplies, as proposed by Perry who suggests allocating 80% of funds to new projects and 20% to infrastructure, or repairing aging infrastructure, with the Texas Water Development Board potentially deciding project priorities under Rep. Cody Harris' resolution which does not specify how the money would be split .
- Experts like Jennifer Walker from the National Wildlife Federation advocate for considering infrastructure repair as a new water supply, while a Texas 2036 report estimates the state needs nearly $154 billion by 2050 for water infrastructure, and without addressing infrastructure issues, the state could lose about $320 billion in the next 15 years, according to Jeremy Mazur .
11 Articles
11 Articles
Texas Senate panel OKs bill aimed at offsetting ‘long-term water supply crisis’
Members of a Texas Senate committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 7 during a March 24 hearing. The proposal by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, seeks to bankroll new water supply projects, invest in flood infrastructure and preserve existing water resources.
Denton Record-Chronicle
KAVULawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritize
Texas lawmakers agree that the answer to the state’s looming water crisis is to invest billions of dollars into fixing the problem. What they don’t agree on, at least for now, is exactly how to spend the money.
Billion dollar water plan passes first key hurdle in TX Senate
Texas lawmakers plan to ask statewide voters a billion-dollar question. It’s part of the state’s quest for more water before regional water wars spring up across the state. Senate Bill 7 passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs unanimously Monday afternoon. The idea would dedicate a billion dollars in future state sales tax to new water projects. It’s expected to pass the entire legislature this spring as one of Gov. …
Panel Approves Major Water Bill - Lexington Leader
Water projects in Texas will have the backing of $ 1 billion in dedicated funds each year under a bill approved unanimously by the Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee on Monday. Within 50 years, state demand for water will double, said committee chair and Lubbock Senator Charles Perry, and the state’s current water supply and infrastructure will not meet those needs. He said that the state’s aquifers are depleting and almost a…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 83% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
