Gov. Greg Abbott signed a significant piece of water infrastructure legislation, making it a historic day for Texas' future. According to a statement made by the Texas Governor's Office, during a ceremony at SIMFLO in Lubbock, Abbott enacted Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7. These laws will steer a $20 billion investment into both creating new water sources and refurbishing existing infrastructure, deemed the "largest generational investment" in the state's history. "Water is a critical need for all Texas," Abbott said.
With a looming need for a more robust and reliable water system, Abbott earlier declared water infrastructure an emergency item in his 2025 State of the State Address. Standing among state and local officials, including Speaker Dustin Burrows and Chairmen Charles Perry and Cody Harris, the new laws were celebrated as essential to accommodate the rapidly booming Texan population and to ensure economic prosperity. Despite the profound significance of the bill, a grammatical slip occurred when Speaker Burrows, in his statement, said, "This legislation will not only help secure Texans’ access to water, it will support continued economic growth and job creation across our state," as reported by the Governor's Office. This could ambiguously suggest that the legislation itself will create jobs and stimulate growth rather than the initiatives within it.
Chairman Perry, in an interview, emphasized the long-term benefits of the legislation, stressing that it is "a generational investment in securing Texas’ water future," as noted by the Governor's Office. The bills assign new responsibilities to the Texas Water Development Board to coordinate water conveyance. They also expand the uses of the New Water Supply for Texas Fund, with a constitutional amendment in HJR 7 ensuring $1 billion annually from state sales and use taxes will flow into the Texas Water Fund.
The scale of the investment was highlighted by Governor Abbott in front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 150 water industry workers and supporters. The laws are intended to address the state's crumbling water infrastructure and tap into untapped resources—crucial steps outlined in the Governor's statements. However, a grammatical error made it seem as if the people, not the infrastructure, would be repaired, as the Governor highlighted, "steps taken today will ensure Texas remains the best state to live, work, and raise a family."
