HB 68

89S20247 CMO-F
		By: Lopez of Cameron
  H.B. No. 68
  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)
  of this section, 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 December 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) of
  this section publicly available by publishing the report on the
  board's Internet website.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION.  This Act expires April 1, 2027.
         SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect on the
  91st day after the last day of the legislative session.