Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1118 by Johnson (Relating to the creation and administration of the On-The-Ground Conservation Program by the State Soil and Water Conservation Board.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Agriculture Code to authorize the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (SWCB) to create and administer a program called the On-The-Ground Conservation Program, which would be intended to maximize public benefits by facilitating certain stated conservation measures and other soil and water conservation land improvement measures. SWCB would be authorized to provide technical assistance, cost-share assistance, and direct grants. SWCB would be authorized to establish cost-share rates for eligible soil and water conservation land improvement measures under the program. SWCB would be authorized to report annually on the program. The bill would be effective September 1, 2021.
Based on information provided by SWCB, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.