Bill Text: TX HB4329 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Engrossed

Texas House Bill 4329

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

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-6)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2025-05-12 - Received from the House [HB4329 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB4329-Engrossed.html

	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.