Amend CSHB 1 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered rider to the Water Development Board budget pattern on page VI-58.

____.  Agricultural Water Conservation Monitoring. From funds appropriated above in Strategy A.3.1, Water Conservation Education and Assistance, is up to $1,800,000 in fiscal year 2016 from general revenue to be transferred to the Agricultural Water Conservation Fund No. 358 to be used for the Agricultural Water Conservation Grant Program. Grants awarded under this provision shall be given to Groundwater Conservation Districts that are implementing water conservation monitoring programs on public or private property, and shall only be used as a 50 percent cost share with the groundwater conservation districts. Texas Water Development Board shall prioritize programs that include funding for new devices which provide the best combination of conservation and accurate measurement of water used. These devices include but are not limited to meters, remote monitoring of soil moisture for irrigation scheduling, weather stations for crop water use, and remote meter reading for irrigation management. Any unexpended balances as of August 31, 2016 in funds appropriated for this purpose are appropriated for the same purpose in the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2016.