Bill > HB4329

This bill directs the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to conduct a comprehensive study on the costs of developing flood infrastructure in Texas, involving multiple state agencies and local entities. The study will identify and map "high-cost drainage zones" where flood infrastructure is particularly expensive to develop, and analyze various cost drivers such as right-of-way acquisition, soil conditions, regulatory compliance, material and labor costs, and long-term maintenance. The TWDB will create a "flood infrastructure cost heat map" to visually represent cost variations across the state, evaluate the return on investment for different flood mitigation strategies (like expanding artificial drainage systems, restoring natural drainage features, and implementing regional flood water detention facilities), and use precipitation frequency data to project future flood mitigation costs and challenges. By September 1, 2026, the board must submit a detailed written report to the legislature and publish it online, providing recommendations for cost-effective flood mitigation strategies and potential funding mechanisms. The bill defines key terms like "artificial drainage system" (a man-made system for removing floodwater in areas with limited natural drainage) and will be in effect from September 1, 2025, until January 1, 2027.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4329