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TWDB outlines $20 billion potential through Senate Bill 7; solicitations planned for SRF and supplemental programs
Summary
The Texas Water Development Board told the advisory group it expects up to $1 billion annually for 20 years under Senate Bill 7 if voters approve the measure; the board plans solicitations for state revolving funds and supplemental programs including emerging contaminants and lead service line work.
The Texas Water Development Board briefed the Drinking Water Advisory Work Group on the status of water infrastructure funding related to Senate Bill 7, which would send a $1 billion-per-year bond authorization to Texas voters for 20 years if approved.
Keeda (TWDB outreach) told the group that the measure—described during the meeting as the "water bill, Senate Bill 7"—would, if approved by voters in November, expand the pool of money available for new water creation projects and for aging water and wastewater infrastructure. "That appropriation is coming in at a billion dollars a year for 20 years. So the investment, it's a $20,000,000,000 investment," she said.
Keeda said the bill expands eligible programs to include the Economically Distressed Areas program and the Flood Infrastructure Fund, and it retains prior directives that prioritized projects in communities with populations of 150,000 or less for certain pots of money. TWDB staff said they expect to follow the same extraction and solicitation approach they used for the earlier Senate Bill 28 funds from 2023 and anticipate solicitations for SRF (state revolving fund) programs and supplemental awards in upcoming fiscal cycles.
TWDB noted that solicitations for the state revolving funds open in December and currently close the first Friday of the following fiscal year; for supplemental funds such as emerging contaminants and lead-service-line programs the agency extends closing through April. Keeda advised interested applicants to join TWDB email lists to receive announcement and solicitation notices.
The agency also summarized past Flood Infrastructure Fund appropriations—more than $400 million in the first round and over $600 million in the follow-up round—and said additional flood-related projects would be eligible under the SB7 funding pot should voters approve the bond.
Ending: TWDB staff urged systems and stakeholders to monitor solicitations and to sign up for email notices; formal solicitations and rules will follow voter approval and rulemaking timelines.
