Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 28	Senate Author:  Perry et al.
Effective:  See below	House Sponsor:  King, Tracy O. et al.

            Senate Bill 28 amends the Water Code to establish the New Water Supply for Texas Fund as a special fund in the state treasury to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The bill requires the TWDB by rule to undertake to finance projects through the fund that will lead to seven million acre‑feet of new water supplies by December 31, 2033. The bill sets out authorized uses of the fund, which include the provision of financial assistance to political subdivisions to develop water supply projects that create new water sources for the state.

Senate Bill 28, effective January 1, 2024, and contingent on voter approval of Senate Joint Resolution 75, establishes that the Texas Water Fund is a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund to be administered by the TWDB for the purpose of transferring money to specified water assistance funds and accounts for applicable uses. The bill requires money in the fund to be held and invested by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company and provides for certain input by the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee with regard to the fund's operation.

Senate Bill 28 turns the statewide water conservation public awareness program into the broader statewide water public awareness program and establishes the statewide water public awareness account as an account in the general revenue fund to be used by the TWDB to develop, administer, and implement the program.

Senate Bill 28, among other provisions, requires the TWDB by rule to establish a program to provide technical assistance to retail public utilities in conducting applicable required water audits and in applying for financial assistance from the TWDB to mitigate the utility system's water loss.

Except as otherwise provided, Senate Bill 28 takes effect September 1, 2023.