NexStar – legislation to support water supply in our state is directed to the office of the governor of Greg Abbott. But the final decision regarding the bill of dollars is in the hands of Texas.
Friday night, the Senate in Texas, the House of Representatives amendments Senate Bill 7. The bill will devote a billion dollar sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund every year over the next twenty years. These funds can be used for a variety of water infrastructure projects, such as repairing aging systems, building desalination plants, and expanding water supplies in our drought.
Non -profit organization Texas 2036 estimates that the country will need more than $ 150 billion over the next fifty years to support the growing demand. Their report was mentioned by the legislative supporters, who have noticed the potential economic impact of the water policy.
“If Texas does not have a sufficient amount of water, or if we continue to suffer from the problems related to aging, the deterioration of drinking water and wastewater systems, then we look at a few billion dollars in the state’s economy,” said Jeremy Mazur, Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Texas 2036.
Mazur said that the report is estimated at $ 165 billion annually from the lost gross domestic product and economic damage due to insufficient water infrastructure.
Abbott investing in water is one of his priorities in the 89th legislative session. It is expected that the legislation will be signed, but there is another step to make the plan a reality. The legislation proposes amending the Texas constitution, which means that voters in Texas must agree to a proposal in elections next November to finance the effect.
Mazuor is optimistic that the Texas voters will say yes. He pointed to a strong support that approved 2023 offer to create the Texas Water Fund.
“What we find in Texas 2036 is that the water, from a political point of view, is the winner,” Mazur said. “Our polls show that there is a strong majority between Republicans and Democrats who greatly support the state’s investment in water infrastructure. So we are optimistic about what this proposal will be, and what is the result of this proposal in November.”