BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2900
88R24598 MP-D	By: Leo-Wilson (Creighton)
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	5/17/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Trinity Bay Conservation District oversees water, sewage, and drainage in its area. Concerns have been raised that the oversight of all of these responsibilities has left the district's board of directors challenged to adequately address the full scope of the district's needs, particularly the district's drainage needs.

H.B. 2900 seeks to address these concerns by granting the district all the rights, powers, privileges, functions, and duties provided by the general law of the state applicable to a conservation, reclamation, and drainage district.

H.B. 2900 amends current law relating to the powers, duties, and use of funds of the Trinity Bay Conservation District.

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 Chapter 282, Acts of the 51st Legislature, Regular Session, 1949, by adding Sections 1a and 11a, as follows:

Sec. 1a. Provides that the Trinity Bay Conservation District (district) has all the rights, powers, privileges, functions, and duties provided by the general law of this state applicable to a conservation, reclamation, and drainage district created under Section 59 (Conservation and Development of Natural Resources; Development of Parks and Recreational Facilities; Conservation and Reclamation Districts; Indebtedness and Taxation Authorized), Article XVI (General Provisions), Texas Constitution, including Chapters 49 (Provisions Applicable to All Districts) and 56 (Drainage Districts), Water Code.

Sec. 11a. (a) Authorizes the district, except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, to only use funds generated by ad valorem taxes:

(1) for flood and drainage mitigation in the district; and

(2) to pay for the administrative costs of the district.

(b) Prohibits the district from commingling funds generated by ad valorem taxes with funds used for freshwater distribution or sanitary sewer collection services.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.