# Texas SB 7: Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.

Texas SB 7, Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Carol Alvarado (Democratic), Paul Bettencourt (Republican), César Blanco (Democratic) and 26 others; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (See remarks for effective date) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB7-89R
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Texas SB 7
- State: Texas
- Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session
- Title: Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-13
- Last action: 2025-06-20, See remarks for effective date
- Sponsors: Carol Alvarado (Democratic), Paul Bettencourt (Republican), César Blanco (Democratic), Donna Campbell (Republican), Brandon Creighton (Republican), Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic), Pete Flores (Republican), Roland Gutierrez (Democratic), Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Bob Hall (Republican), Hancock, Cody Harris, Adam Hinojosa (Republican), Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (Democratic), Bryan Hughes (Republican), Nathan Johnson (Democratic), Phil King (Republican), Lois Kolkhorst (Republican), José Menéndez (Democratic), Mayes Middleton (Republican), Borris L. Miles (Democratic), Robert Nichols (Republican), Tan Parker (Republican), Angela Paxton (Republican), Charles Perry (Republican), Charles Schwertner (Republican), Kevin Sparks (Republican), Royce West (Democratic), Judith Zaffirini (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Disaster Preparedness & Relief, Environment--Water, Interim Studies, Property Interests--Eminent Domain, State Agencies, Boards & Commissions, State Finances--Management & Control, Utilities--Water & Sewer, Water--Conservation, Water--Development, Water--General, Water--Rights, FLOODS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TEXAS DIVISION OF, WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (538 yes, 58 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Texas reserves deposits for water supply: benefit, medium. Beginning September 1, 2027, the law recognizes constitutional transfers and deposits as Texas Water Fund sources, subject to voter approval of H.J.R. 7. At least 50% of qualifying constitutional deposits must be allocated for transfer to two water supply funds, alone or together. These are the New…
- Water aid prioritizes rural, smaller communities: benefit, medium. The Board must use some transferred money for water and wastewater infrastructure, including repairs or replacement of failing systems. Aid, including grants, prioritizes rural local governments and cities with fewer than 150,000 residents, based on risk or financial need. Listed uses also include…
- Residents can track Texas water funding: benefit, low. Beginning September 1, 2025, the Board must maintain a public website tool and update it as appropriate. It tracks future water supply needs, projects with Board assistance commitments, projected water developed, conserved, or reclaimed, and fund transfers. It also shows assistance to utilities who…
- Texas strengthens water fund oversight: benefit, low. Beginning September 1, 2025, the advisory committee must review four funds at least twice yearly: Texas Water, State Water Implementation, Flood Infrastructure, and Texas Infrastructure Resiliency. It can recommend fund uses, review other water funds, and study state ownership, construction, and op…
- Texas coordinates shared water delivery systems: benefit, low. Subject to legislative funding, the Board must coordinate joint planning for water supply projects eligible for its financial help. It must promote existing easements to reduce the need to take private property through eminent domain. It must develop water transport standards and guidance so system…
- More financing options for Texas water: mixed, medium. The Texas Water Development Board can help finance new water sources, including reuse and water acquired from outside Texas. Reservoirs qualify only after required land is acquired and the specified federal dredged-or-fill permit and state water permit are obtained. Water transport and system conne…
- Texas expands but locks funding transfers: mixed, low. The Board can transfer Texas Water Fund money to listed administration, flood, economically distressed-area, and agricultural water conservation accounts. It can transfer money to the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas before a project application is approved. Other listed transfers generall…
- Water administration gets funding with caps: mixed, low. The law creates a separate administrative fund outside general revenue for necessary, reasonable Texas Water Fund costs, including staffing and water-delivery duties. It receives appropriations, Board transfers, and assigned interest; other related uses require legislative appropriations. Annual tr…
- Water transfers expand with acquisition limits: mixed, low. Qualifying transfers of water or water rights originating outside Texas are exempt from Water Code Section 11.036 restrictions. The exception covers transfers under the Board's specified water-bank authority, and recipients must be entitled to acquire use of the water. Separately, fund money can ac…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Carol Alvarado (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: César Blanco (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Donna Campbell (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Pete Flores (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Roland Gutierrez (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Bob Hall (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Hancock
- Sponsor: Cody Harris, House
- Sponsor: Adam Hinojosa (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Bryan Hughes (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Nathan Johnson (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Phil King (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lois Kolkhorst (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: José Menéndez (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Mayes Middleton (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Borris L. Miles (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Robert Nichols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Tan Parker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Angela Paxton (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Charles Perry (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Charles Schwertner (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kevin Sparks (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Royce West (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Judith Zaffirini (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Brian Birdwell (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joan Huffman (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-30 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 31 | 0 |   |
| 2025-05-28 | House | Record vote | pass | 136 | 0 |   |
| 2025-05-26 | House | Record vote | pass | 143 | 3 |   |
| 2025-05-26 | House | Record vote | pass | 137 | 0 |   |
| 2025-05-26 | House | Record vote | pass | 81 | 55 |   |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | Record vote | pass |   |   |   |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | Record vote | pass |   |   |   |
|   | House | Committee vote: Natural Resources | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (85)

- 2025-06-20: See remarks for effective date (House)
- 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House)
- 2025-06-01: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2025-06-01: Signed in the House (House)
- 2025-05-31: Signed in the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-31: Reported enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-05-31: Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported (House)
- 2025-05-30: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-05-30: Senate concurs in House amendment(s) (Senate)
- 2025-05-30: Read (Senate)
- 2025-05-30: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: House passage as amended reported (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-28: Record vote (RV#3922) (House)
- 2025-05-28: Passed (House)
- 2025-05-28: Amendment withdrawn (1-Morales Shaw) (House)
- 2025-05-28: Laid out as postponed business (House)
- 2025-05-27: Postponed (5/28/25 8:00 AM) (House)
- 2025-05-27: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2025-05-26: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-26: Record vote (RV#3549) (House)
- 2025-05-26: Passed to 3rd reading as amended (House)
- 2025-05-26: Record vote (RV#3548) (House)
- 2025-05-26: Amended (1-Harris) (House)
- 2025-05-26: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-26: Record vote (RV#3547) (House)
- 2025-05-26: Amendment to amendment tabled (2-Martinez Fischer and Lujan) (House)
- 2025-05-26: Amendment(s) offered (1-Harris) (House)
- 2025-05-26: Laid out as postponed business (House)
- 2025-05-23: Postponed (5/26/25 8:00 AM) (House)
- 2025-05-23: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2025-05-23: Placed on General State Calendar (House)
- 2025-05-20: Considered in Calendars (House)
- 2025-05-16: Committee report sent to Calendars (House)
- 2025-05-16: Committee report distributed (House)
- 2025-05-16: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House)
- 2025-05-07: Reported favorably as substituted (House)
- 2025-05-07: Committee substitute considered in committee (House)
- 2025-05-07: Considered in public hearing (House)
- 2025-04-24: Left pending in committee (House)
- 2025-04-24: Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (House)
- 2025-04-24: Committee substitute considered in committee (House)
- 2025-04-24: Considered in public hearing (House)
- 2025-04-24: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (House)
- 2025-04-22: Posting rule suspended (House)
- 2025-04-09: Referred to Natural Resources (House)
- 2025-04-09: Read first time (House)
- 2025-04-03: Received from the Senate (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Passed (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Read 3rd time (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Three day rule suspended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Passed to engrossment as amended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amendment(s) offered (FA5 Perry) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amendment(s) offered (FA4 Perry) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amendment(s) offered (FA3 Perry) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amendment(s) offered (FA2 Perry) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amended (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Amendment(s) offered (FA1 Perry) (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Read 2nd time (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Placed on intent calendar (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Vote taken in committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Testimony taken in committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Considered in public hearing (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Read first time (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Filed (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007E.PDF)
- Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007F.PDF)
- House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007H.PDF)
- Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007I.PDF)
- Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007S.PDF)

## Related bills

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- SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed)
- HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007E.HTM)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007E.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007F.HTM)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007F.PDF)
- [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007H.HTM)
- [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007H.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007I.HTM)
- [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007I.PDF)
- [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00007S.HTM)
- [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00007S.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R)
- [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R)
- [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R)
- [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R)
- [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R)
- [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB7-89R (as of 2026-10-19).