The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs has released its interim report to the 89th Legislature. The report includes details on public testimony taken during committee hearings and written materials submitted to the Committee. See below for a spotlight on recommendations from the report.
Additional Appropriations Principally in Support of New Water Supply Projects
- Make a significant appropriation to the TWF for the 2026-27 Biennium, and direct most of the appropriation to support new water supply projects via the NWSTF by rider
- Constitutionally dedicate a continuous revenue stream to support the TWF in perpetuity beginning in the 2028-29 Biennium, and direct most of the revenue stream to support new water supply projects via the NWSTF through the end of the 2042-43 Biennium, with appropriate sunset, transparency, and legislative oversight requirements
- Make a significant appropriation for the 2026-27 Biennium in support of the development and deployment of SMR technology to provide the power necessary to meet the needs of both the state’s water infrastructure and its power grid at large.
General Improvements to Water Infrastructure Cybersecurity
- Require all Texas water systems to isolate their SCADA networks or, if applicable, equivalent operational IT infrastructure from the internet
- Support the expeditious establishment of the additional RSOCs DIR is currently developing plans for
- Grant DIR the authority to conduct cybersecurity assessments of public water systems; (4) require all Texas water systems to utilize multi-factor authentication protocols for users to obtain access to their SCADA networks or, if applicable, equivalent operational IT infrastructure, and grant DIR authority to update that requirement by rule as multi-factor authentication technology advances
- Expand access to cybersecurity-related services procured through or from DIR to include private water systems in Texas
- Eliminate the effective exemption from required cybersecurity training for public water system employees who use local government computer systems or databases for less than 25% of their required duties
- Require all Texas water systems to report to DIR all security incidents resulting in the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal information, the introduction of ransomware, or the disruption of water system operations
Growing the Water Workforce
- Support the continued operation of the TRUE grant program
- Encourage additional partnerships between Texas water systems, state agencies responsible for licensing occupations in the Texas water workforce, and Texas technical and community colleges that train students for those occupations
- Reduce staff turnover at the state agencies responsible for licensing the occupations in the Texas water workforce.
Improving Agency Coordination & Effectiveness Relating to Water Policy
- Support the acquisition and implementation of a digital case management system for the PUC
- Expand eligibility to carry out the expedited STM process for temporary managers of PUC-regulated water systems to apply to all types of temporary managers, as opposed to only IOUs
- Set a 60 calendar day time limit for consideration of an administratively complete SIC application by the PUC
- Establish an alternative, post-treatment legal classification to waste for treated produced water.
Facilitating Further Consolidation of Small Water Systems
- Clarify that the safe harbor provisions first enacted by HB 3232 apply to all types of water systems
- Expand existing FTM programs to provide more assistance to small, disadvantaged, and rural water systems
- Establish an emergency assistance program for water systems under temporary management to resolve issues that imminently endanger their retail customers.
