BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 735
88R4620 SGM-F	By: Springer
	Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
	3/9/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The bill intends to streamline bureaucracy while maintaining transparency by allowing the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to need only one public posting and one public board meeting to adopt a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Under current law, if TWDB wishes to enter into an MOU with another state agency, TWDB must do so by rule, which requires TWDB to post the MOU publicly and vote on it twice�once for the actual MOU and again for the adoption by rule. The bill removes the requirement for TWDB from having to adopt an MOU by rule, thereby allowing the agency to post publicly and publicly vote only once to enter into an MOU with another state agency.

As proposed, S.B. 735 amends current law relating to memoranda of understanding between the Texas Water Development Board and other state agencies.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Water Development Board is rescinded in SECTION 1 (Section 6.104, Water Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 6.104, Water Code, as follows:

Sec. 6.104. MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING. Deletes existing text requiring the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to adopt by rule any memorandum of understanding between TWDB and any other state agency.

SECTION 2. Makes application of Section 6.104, Water Code, as amended by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.

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