Texas Legislature advances major water bill, eyes $1 billion in infrastructure funding

(UI) — Texas lawmakers have approved legislation that could unlock up to $1 billion annually for water infrastructure and local groundwater research, marking a major step toward long-term water resilience as population growth continues to strain the state’s supply.

“With the dramatic population growth that Texas continues to experience, our water supplies are drying up, impacting Texans and communities across our great state,” said Governor Abbott. “This Texas-size water package is critical to fix broken and leaking pipes and give our agriculture producers in the Rio Grande Valley and West Texas the water they need to grow their crops. Thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Burrows, Senator Charles Perry, and Representative Cody Harris, Texas will make a generational investment to our water infrastructure and tap into new water supplies. I look forward to swiftly signing Senate Bill 7 into law, and I encourage Texans to pass the constitutional amendment this November to put Texas on a path to have plenty of water for the next 50 years.”  

Senate Bill 7, authored by Sen. Charles Perry, and House Joint Resolution 7, introduced by Rep. Cody Harris, were approved during the 89th Legislative Session. If voters pass the associated constitutional amendment in November, the measures will enable long-term investments in both aging infrastructure and new water supply development.

“We saw tremendous leadership from Senator Perry, Representative Harris, Senator Kolkhorst, and other water champions who carried the torch for our water future this session—unlocking critical, ongoing investment in both new supply and aging infrastructure, and making much-needed progress to improve groundwater management,” said Vanessa Puig-Williams, senior director of climate resilient water systems at the Environmental Defense Fund.

The legislation also includes $7.5 million for local groundwater science in the 2026–2027 biennium—a first-of-its-kind investment aimed at improving aquifer management. The Texas Water Development Board will oversee distribution of new grants through its Research and Planning Fund. The funding will support local-scale groundwater modeling, data collection, and scientific analysis to better equip Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs), which are responsible for overseeing more than half of the state's water supply.

“We’ve been encouraged by the growing interest in water issues from legislators this session, particularly with respect to protecting groundwater resources—which are a critical water supply for the state,” Puig-Williams said. “As attention grows, so too does the need for deeper education and stronger advocacy to ensure we have enough water for current and future generations.”

The new infrastructure package also includes a provision that restricts the use of public funds to export fresh groundwater from rural areas. Supporters say the restriction is an important safeguard for local aquifers, though advocates caution that additional protections and science-based planning are still needed.

“To truly safeguard our groundwater, we need long-term, sustainable management practices backed by science-driven planning, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative project development,” Puig-Williams said. “As Texas continues to navigate its water future, the 89th Legislature’s achievements signal a renewed commitment to careful, science-based stewardship of one of the state’s most vital resources.”

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