A proposed amendment that would have blocked financing for state water‑plan projects listed more than 50 years ago failed on the House floor, leaving the Marvin Nichols reservoir — a decades‑old option for North Texas water supply — in the Texas Water Development Board planning toolkit.

The amendment from Rep. Van Deaver was framed as a protection for private property: he said the proposal would stop the state from financing projects that had sat on planning lists for half a century, and argued it would protect families who have lived for generations on land that could be flooded for a reservoir.

Representative Gonzales of El Paso, speaking for opponents of the amendment, said the proposal “is not just about water. This is about people's lives,” describing worries from East Texas families facing long-term uncertainty about their land. Supporters of keeping the site in the plan said the reservoir has been a planned option in state water planning since the late 1960s and that millions in taxpayer money has already been spent on studies and engineering.

Why it matters: North Texas water demand has continued to rise with population growth. The Marvin Nichols site has appeared in regional and state water plans across several decades; proponents say removing the site would constrain long-term, large-scale supply options for the Dallas–Fort Worth area and beyond.

Vote and outcome: The floor recorded the amendment’s defeat. The clerk read the tally after roll call: the amendment “fails to adopt.” The House later passed the underlying water-infrastructure financing bill, Senate Bill 12 61, which remains available as a financing tool to support large-scale projects.

Details cited in debate: Members referenced planning history and costs — the reservoir option has appeared in multiple regional and state water plans since 1968, and the House heard that more than $10 million in state planning and engineering dollars already have been spent on the project. Lawmakers on both sides warned of major land impacts; supporters of the amendment said the reservoir would consume about 70,000 acres and that mitigation requirements could double or triple affected acreage in some scenarios.

What’s next: With the amendment defeated, SB 12 61 — which creates new financing authority for water projects — passed third reading on the floor and will proceed through the legislative process. East Texas members said they will continue to press for protections for private property owners and for alternatives to reservoir construction where possible.

Ending: The vote underscored the long‑running tension in Texas water policy between securing large‑scale supplies for growing urban regions and protecting landowners in areas proposed for reservoirs.