LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATURE 2nd CALLED SESSION 2025

August 21, 2025

TO:	Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB68 by Lopez, Janie (Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board on the costs of developing flood infrastructure in this state.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB68, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($800,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026	($800,000)
2027	$0
2028	$0
2029	$0
2030	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2026	($800,000)
2027	$0
2028	$0
2029	$0
2030	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), in coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the General Land Office (GLO),  the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and regional flood  planning groups, drainage districts, and local governments, to conduct a study and to develop and publish a report by December 1, 2026, regarding the costs of developing flood infrastructure in the state. The bill would require the study to meet prescribed criteria and that the report provides related findings and recommendations.

The bill would take effect on the ninety-first day after the last day of the legislative session, and would expire on April 1, 2027.

Methodology

The table above reflect one-time General Revenue Fund costs needed to implement the provisions of the bill based on the analysis and information provided by TWDB. According to TWDB, the cost analysis is based on existing technical consultant contracting used for the regional flood planning process and accounts for the timeline and scope required of the study and report. This analysis assumes all costs would occur in fiscal year 2026.

According to TxDOT, TCEQ, and GLO, it is assumed that any costs associated with the bill to agencies with coordination responsibilities could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation

LBB Staff:

JMc, CMA, MW, AJL