SB 976

relating to the establishment of an advisory board to study surface
water and groundwater interaction.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  DEFINITION.  In this Act, "advisory board" means
the Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction Advisory Board.
SECTION 2.  SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION
ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED.  (a) The Surface Water and Groundwater
Interaction Advisory Board is established and consists of 12
(1)  the executive administrator of the Texas Water
(2)  one person to represent the interests of the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality, recommended by the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality and appointed jointly by the
chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate
water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;
(3)  two persons to represent the interests of river
authorities, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and
appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources
committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs
(4)  two persons to represent the interests of
groundwater conservation districts, recommended jointly by the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water
Development Board and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house
natural resources committee and the senate water, agriculture, and
(5)  two persons with academic or specialist knowledge
in the area of surface water and groundwater interaction, with one
appointed by the chair of the house natural resources committee and
another appointed by the chair of the senate water, agriculture,
(6)  one person to represent environmental interests or
the interests relating to the interaction of surface water and
groundwater, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and
appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources
committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs
(7)  the chair of the house natural resources
(8)  the chair of the senate water, agriculture, and
(9)  one person from the office of the governor,
(b)  The executive administrator of the Texas Water
Development Board serves as the chair of the advisory board.
SECTION 3.  PUBLIC MEETING.  The advisory board shall hold at
least one public meeting each year in order to accept comments from
the public on matters studied by the advisory board.
SECTION 4.  SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION STUDY.
(a)  The advisory board shall study:
(1)  the extent to which surface water and groundwater
(2)  challenges arising in this state from the
interaction of surface water and groundwater; and
(3)  approaches to mitigating challenges arising in
this state from the interaction of surface water and groundwater.
(b)  In conducting the study under this section, the advisory
(1)  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
(2)  groundwater conservation districts; and
SECTION 5.  STUDY UPDATES AND REPORT; EXPIRATION OF ACT.  (a)
Not later than December 1 of each year, the advisory board shall
submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and each member of the legislature an
annual status report on the progress of the study conducted under
(b)  Not later than December 1, 2034, the advisory board
shall deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker
of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature
a final report on the determinations of the advisory board based on
the study conducted under Section 4 of this Act.
(c)  The advisory board shall deliver to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
or a member of the legislature information related to the annual
status report under Subsection (a) of this section or the final
report under Subsection (b) of this section on request.
(d)  The advisory board is abolished and this Act expires
SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.