BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2095
	By: Wilson (Perry)
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	5/18/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 2095 directs the Bureau of Economic Geology to coordinate with water stakeholders to collect data and conduct studies with integrated models characterizing the water resources of the state.  

H.B. 2095 amends current law relating to water research conducted by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Title 2, Water Code, by adding Subtitle G, as follows:

SUBTITLE G. WATER RESEARCH

CHAPTER 39. WATER RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

Sec. 39.0100.� SHORT TITLE. Authorizes this chapter to be cited as the Texas Water Information Network Exchange program.

Sec. 39.0101.� DEFINITIONS. Defines "board" and "bureau" in this chapter.

Sec. 39.0102.� DATA AND MODELING. (a) Requires The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (bureau) to, in coordination with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), make studies of water, including surface water, groundwater, soil moisture, and atmospheric moisture, to improve on data gaps and on the processing, analysis, modeling, and integration of water-related data.

(b) Requires the bureau to, in coordination with TWDB, work to enhance, advance, or integrate models characterizing the water resources of the state including:

(1)� improving the techniques for multiscale modeling;

(2) expanding the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques;

(3)� integrating multiscale modeling and machine learning;

(4)� creating interoperable, modular, or coupled modeling strategies;

(5) improving access to and methods for achieving high-performance computing; and

(6)� improving access to open-source, community-supported modeling.

Sec. 39.0103.� COOPERATION AND COORDINATION. (a) Requires the bureau, in fulfilling the duties described by Section 39.0102, to cooperate with certain state agencies and universities with access to data related to surface water, groundwater, soil moisture, or atmospheric moisture.

(b) Authorizes the bureau to coordinate with federal agencies or private entities as appropriate to fulfill the requirements of Chapter 39.

(c) Requires the agencies, political subdivisions, and universities described by Subsection (a) to provide, on request and to the extent available, data to the bureau as necessary to fulfill the requirements of Chapter 39.

(d) Provides that to the extent of any conflict or inconsistency, the provisions of Chapters 6 (Texas Water Development Board) and 16 (Provisions Generally Applicable to Water Development) describing the powers, duties, and functions of TWDB prevail over this chapter.

(e) Requires the bureau and TWDB to enter into a memorandum of understanding to define their powers, duties, and functions related to this chapter.

Sec. 39.0104.� RESULTS. Requires the bureau to cooperate with TWDB to ensure that the data and information compiled and produced under Section 39.0102 are made available in accordance with Section 16.012(d).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.

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