By: Schofield H.B. No. 4659
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an interim study of the financing of regional projects
  and facilities to convert from groundwater to surface water.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  WORKING GROUP. (a) A working group is formed to
  study, review, and report to the legislature on the methods for
  financing or refinancing the regional water projects and facilities
  to convert from groundwater to surface water.
         (b)  The working group is composed of representatives of the
  Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Public Finance Authority,
  and the local governments in Harris and Fort Bend counties that have
  borrowed money for surface water conversion projects from the Texas
  Water Development Board. The participation of said local
  governments is not mandatory and the lack of participation by any
  local government shall not affect the ability of the working group
  to proceed.
         (c)  The chair of the Texas Water Development Board, or her
  designee, shall serve as chair of the working group.
         (d)  The working group shall convene at the call of the
  chair.
         (e)  All members of the Texas House or Texas Senate may
  request to be kept informed of the working group's progress.
         SECTION 2.  STUDY. The working group formed by this Act
  shall study:
               (1)  the extensive useful life of regional facilities
  and improvements to convert from groundwater to surface water;
               (2)  the comparatively short period of time of the
  financing of the cost of such facilities;
               (3)  the economic impact to current water users in
  paying the costs of facilities that will provide service for future
  water users;
               (4)  the terms of current and anticipated financings of
  the costs of facilities;
               (5)  the goal of more even distribution of the costs so
  that they are born by the users throughout the useful life of the
  project;
               (6)  the fairness and equity benefits to the water
  users of extension of financings for longer periods of time
  compared to the potential increase in financing costs;
               (7)  methods for the financing and refinancing of
  projects so that the cost of the projects are more evenly
  distributed and born by the users throughout the useful life of the
  project;
               (8)  policies and procedures of the State and the Texas
  Water Development Board that can better accomplish the goal of
  better distribution of the cost burden;
               (9)  whether the Texas Water Development Board's
  financing terms and conditions of existing and future borrowings
  can be improved to better accomplish the goal of better
  distribution of the cost burden;
               (10)  whether funding could be applied to refinance or
  restructure existing financings;
               (11)  whether costs of the projects could be fundied by
  grants instead of loans or whether the State or the Texas Water
  Development Board could forgive loans or portions of loans to
  better accomplish the goal of better distribution of the cost
  burden; and
               (12)  whether potential measures that could further the
  goal of more even distribution of the costs so that they are born by
  the users throughout the useful life of the project are precluded by
  state law, and what changes to state law would be necessary to
  enable their adoption.
         SECTION 3.  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) If the
  working group determines that changes and improvements by the State
  or its agencies, including the Texas Water Development Board, are
  warranted and possible without further legislative authorization,
  the working group shall seek implementation of those changes and
  improvements.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2024, the working group
  formed by this Act shall report the working group's findings and
  recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
  house of representatives, and the governor.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025.
         SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
  immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
  elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
  Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.