Honorable Tracy O. King, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2460 by King, Tracy O. (Relating to a requirement that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality obtain or develop updated water availability models for certain river basins.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2460, As Introduced : an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the TCEQ may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2024
$0
2025
$0
2026
$0
2027
$0
2028
$0
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from Water Resource Management 153
2024
($5,035,000)
2025
$0
2026
$0
2027
$0
2028
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The
bill would amend the Texas Water code to require Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to obtain or develop updated water
availability models for the Guadalupe, Lavaca, Nueces, San Antonio, San
Jacinto, and Trinity River Basins no later then December 1, 2026. The bill
would expire September 1, 2027.
Methodology
TCEQ has indicated not having an awareness of any entities either currently developing, or planning to develop, water availability models that it could obtain for any, or all, of the river basins that would meet the requirements of the bill within the mandated timeline. Accordingly, this analysis assumes the agency would have to enter into a contract with an outside entity to develop water availability models as required by the bill.
The table above reflects an estimated total cost of $5,035,000 out of General Revenue-Dedicated Water Resource Management Account No. 153 in fiscal year 2024 based on information provided by TCEQ. Water availability model costs are estimated to be $1,780,000 for the Guadalupe and San Antonio River Basin, $325,000 for the Lavaca River Basin, $800,000 for the Nueces River Basin, $500,000 for the San Jacinto River Basin, and $1,630,000 for the Trinity River Basin.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.