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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creation of the groundwater science, research, and |
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innovation fund to be administered by the Texas Water Development |
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Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 15, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter F-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F-1. GROUNDWATER SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND INNOVATION FUND |
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Sec. 15.421. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "District" means a groundwater conservation |
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district created under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, |
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Article XVI, Texas Constitution, that has the authority to regulate |
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the spacing of wells producing from groundwater reservoirs in the |
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district and regulate the production from those wells. |
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(2) "Fund" means the groundwater science, research, |
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and innovation fund. |
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Sec. 15.422. GROUNDWATER SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND INNOVATION |
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FUND. (a) The groundwater science, research, and innovation fund |
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is a special fund in the state treasury to be administered by the |
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board under this subchapter and rules adopted by the board under |
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this subchapter. |
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(b) The fund consists of: |
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(1) money appropriated for transfer or deposit to the |
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credit of the fund; |
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(2) money the board transfers to the fund from any |
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available source; |
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(3) depository interest allocable to the fund and |
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other investment returns on money in the fund; |
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(4) money from gifts, grants, or donations to the |
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fund; and |
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(5) any other fees or sources of revenue that the |
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legislature may dedicate for deposit to the fund. |
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Sec. 15.423. USE OF FUND. (a) The board may use the fund |
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only to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to |
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finance district programs and projects that will further |
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groundwater science, research, and innovation in this state, |
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including local research, data, modeling, and innovative programs |
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and projects designed to: |
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(1) improve understanding of local groundwater |
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conditions; |
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(2) develop or improve groundwater models relied on |
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for planning and decision-making; |
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(3) improve groundwater use efficiency and increase |
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water conservation efforts; |
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(4) increase groundwater recharge; or |
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(5) protect groundwater quality. |
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(b) The fund may be used for any purpose described by |
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Subsection (a) under criteria developed by the board. |
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Sec. 15.424. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. The board shall adopt |
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rules necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules |
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establishing procedures for the application for and award of |
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financial assistance, the distribution of financial assistance, |
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and the administration of financial assistance and the fund. |
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Sec. 15.425. EVALUATION OF APPLICATION. (a) When |
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evaluating an application for financial assistance from a district, |
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the board shall consider: |
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(1) the expected benefit of the program or project in |
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informing the management, planning, or decision-making of the |
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district; |
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(2) whether the program or project meets any science, |
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data, and modeling objectives of the board; |
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(3) the extent to which the program's or project's |
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outcome may benefit the state and regional water planning processes |
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under Sections 16.051 and 16.053; and |
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(4) the district's need for financial assistance based |
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on the district's available revenue or other sources of financial |
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assistance available to the district. |
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(b) The board by resolution may approve an application if, |
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after considering the factors listed in Subsection (a) and other |
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relevant factors, the board finds that the public interest is |
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served by state assistance for the program or project and the |
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district has met the matching funds requirement under Section |
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15.426. |
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(c) The board shall ensure that a district that receives |
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financial assistance for a program or project provides the board |
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with all data, science, and other research findings gathered |
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through the implementation of the program or project for which the |
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district received financial assistance. |
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(d) The board shall ensure that at least 35 percent of the |
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money transferred from the fund is used to fund programs or projects |
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by districts with: |
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(1) populations of not more than 100,000; and |
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(2) annual revenues of not more than $250,000, as |
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determined at the close of the previous fiscal year. |
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Sec. 15.426. MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED. The board by rule may |
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require a district that is the recipient of a grant using money from |
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the fund to provide matching funds, which may include direct |
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expenditures or in-kind services related to the program or project, |
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in an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |