By: King of Uvalde, Guillen, Zwiener H.B. No. 2225
        (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini)
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2021;
  April 19, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,
  Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2021, reported favorably by
  the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2021, sent to
  printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife
  Department regarding the Texas Water Trust.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife
  Code, is amended by adding Section 12.028 to read as follows:
         Sec. 12.028.  POWERS AND DUTIES REGARDING TEXAS WATER TRUST.
  (a) In this section, "Texas Water Trust" means the trust
  established under Section 15.7031, Water Code.
         (b)  Consistent with Section 11.0235(b), Water Code, and the
  department's duties and responsibilities, the department shall
  encourage and facilitate the dedication of water rights in the
  Texas Water Trust through lease, donation, purchase, or other means
  of voluntary transfer for environmental needs, including for the
  purpose of maintaining or improving:
               (1)  instream flows;
               (2)  water quality;
               (3)  fish and wildlife habitat; and
               (4)  bay and estuary inflows.
         (c)  The department may manage rights in the Texas Water
  Trust in a manner that is consistent with:
               (1)  the manner in which a holder of the rights may
  manage the rights;
               (2)  the dedication of the rights, including the
  dedication's terms and conditions;
               (3)  Sections 11.0237, 11.027, and 11.122, Water Code;
  and
               (4)  maximizing environmental benefits.
         (d)  This section may not be construed to authorize the
  department to exercise any authority expressly granted to the Texas
  Water Development Board or the Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality under Subchapter K, Chapter 15, Water Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 15.7031, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  The Parks and Wildlife Department may manage rights in
  the trust:
               (1)  under a voluntary agreement with a rights holder;
  and
               (2)  in the manner described by Section 12.028(c),
  Parks and Wildlife Code.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
  * * * * *