Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board on the costs of developing flood infrastructure in this state.

89(R) HB 4329 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

89R18614 CMO-F

By: Lopez of Cameron, González of El Paso,

H.B. No. 4329

Longoria, Guerra, Martinez, et al.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board on the

costs of developing flood infrastructure in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Artificial drainage system" means a man-made

system used to remove floodwater in a community that lacks

topographic relief, slope, or naturally defined floodways.

(2) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.

(3) "High-cost drainage zone" means an area where the

construction, maintenance, or improvement of flood infrastructure

requires significant financial investment due to natural,

regulatory, or logistical factors.

SECTION 2. STUDY. The board, in coordination with the Texas

Department of Transportation, the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality, the General Land Office, the Federal

Emergency Management Agency, and regional flood planning groups,

drainage districts, and local governments, shall conduct a study on

the costs of developing flood infrastructure in this state. The

study must:

(1) identify and map high-cost drainage zones across

this state;

(2) analyze flood infrastructure cost drivers that

affect the development and maintenance of flood infrastructure by

contributing to the cost of planning, constructing, or maintaining

flood mitigation systems, including:

(A) right-of-way acquisition;

(B) soil conditions and topographic limitations;

(C) regulatory compliance and permitting;

(D) material and labor costs; and

(E) long-term maintenance and sediment control;

(3) analyze historical flood infrastructure project

costs and compare variations across regions in this state;

(4) based on the data gathered under Subdivision (3),

develop a flood infrastructure cost heat map that visually

represents the cost variation in developing flood infrastructure

across the state;

(5) include cost estimates and evaluate the return on

investment for various flood mitigation strategies, including:

(A) expanding artificial drainage systems;

(B) restoring natural drainage features;

(C) implementing regional flood water detention

facilities;

(D) enhancing flood water conveyance

infrastructure; and

(E) improving the regulatory framework for

floodplain management;

(6) establish projections for future flood mitigation

costs, urbanization, and regulatory updates by incorporating

precipitation frequency estimates from the 14th and 15th volumes of

the Precipitation-Frequency Atlas of the United States published by

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and

(7) provide recommendations for cost-effective flood

mitigation strategies and potential funding mechanisms to support

communities located in high-cost drainage zones.

SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2026, the

board shall:

(1) prepare and submit to the legislature a written

report of the findings of the study and the recommendations

required under Section 2 of this Act; and

(2) make the report required by Subdivision (1)

publicly available by publishing the report on the board's Internet

website.

SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2027.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September

1, 2025.