SB 1624

relating to the purposes for which the Texas Water Bank and the
Texas Water Trust may accept and hold water rights.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 12.028(b), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
(b)  Consistent with Section 11.0235(b), Water Code, and the
department's duties and responsibilities, the department shall
encourage and facilitate the dedication of water rights in the
Texas Water Trust through lease, donation, purchase, or other means
of voluntary transfer for conservation or environmental needs,
including for the purpose of maintaining or improving:
(4) [(3)]  fish and wildlife habitat; and
(5) [(4)]  bay and estuary inflows.
SECTION 2.  Section 15.703(a), Water Code, is amended to
(a)  The board may take all actions necessary to operate the
water bank and to facilitate the transfer of water rights from the
water bank for future beneficial use including but not limited to:
(1)  negotiating a sale price and terms acceptable to
(2)  maintaining a registry of water bank deposits and
those water users in need of additional supplies;
(3)  informing water users in need of additional supply
of water rights available in the bank;
(4)  encouraging water right holders to implement water
conservation practices and deposit the right to use the conserved
(5)  establishing requirements for deposit of a water
right into the water bank including minimum terms for deposit;
(6)  purchasing, holding, and transferring water or
(7)  establishing regional water banks;
(8)  acting as a clearinghouse for water marketing
information including water availability, pricing of water
transactions, environmental considerations, and potential buyers
(9)  preparing and publishing a manual on structuring
(10)  accepting and holding donations of water rights
to meet conservation or environmental needs, including water supply
management, instream flow, water quality, fish and wildlife
habitat, or bay and estuary inflow needs;
(11)  entering into contracts with persons to pay for
feasibility studies or the preparation of plans and specifications
relating to water conservation efforts or to estimate the amount of
water that would be saved through conservation efforts; and
(12)  other actions to facilitate water transactions.
SECTION 3.  Section 15.7031(a), Water Code, is amended to
(a)  The Texas Water Trust is established within the water
bank to hold water rights dedicated to conservation or
environmental needs, including water supply management, instream
flow [flows], water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, or bay and
estuary inflow needs [inflows].
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.