Bill > SB448

This bill modifies the Government Code to establish cost sharing requirements for desalination facilities operating under public-private partnerships. Specifically, the bill requires that when a desalination facility (which can include facilities that convert brackish or salty water into potable water) begins charging customers for water, the private entity involved in the project must pay at least 50 percent of the energy costs to operate the facility. The new requirement will apply only to comprehensive agreements or service contracts for desalination facilities that begin charging customers on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025. Existing contracts for desalination facilities that were already charging customers before this date will continue to be governed by the previous legal requirements. This legislation aims to ensure that private entities bear a significant portion of the operational energy costs for water treatment facilities, potentially helping to distribute the financial burden between public and private sectors in infrastructure projects.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB448