Relating to the applicability of uniform grant and contract management standards to certain Texas Water Development Board programs.
Summary
HB 4153 narrows the reach of Texas’s uniform grant and contract management standards for certain Texas Water Development Board programs. The bill amends Section 15.008 of the Water Code to specify that Chapter 783, Government Code, does not apply to contracts under Subchapters B, C, F, H, I, K, P, or R of Chapter 15. The practical effect is to exempt a defined set of TWDB financing and assistance programs from the statewide grant-management framework.
The bill applies prospectively only. Contracts entered into before the effective date remain governed by prior law, while contracts executed on or after September 1, 2025, would be subject to the new exemption. In that way, the bill changes how certain future TWDB contracts are administered without disturbing existing agreements.
Impact
HB 4153 would amend the Water Code to remove specified Texas Water Development Board programs from the applicability of the uniform grant and contract management standards in Chapter 783, Government Code. This affects state contract administration rules for those programs by allowing them to operate under their own statutory framework rather than the general grant-management requirements. The bill does not create new programs or funding, but it changes the legal standards governing certain TWDB contracts going forward.
Sentiment
The available record suggests a neutral-to-supportive posture, with no recorded committee testimony or votes indicating organized opposition. The bill advanced in the legislative process but was ultimately laid on the table subject to call in the House, which indicates it did not move forward at that point. Because there are no transcripts or vote totals provided, the public or committee sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s narrow, technical nature and lack of documented controversy.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. The main policy issue implied by the bill is whether certain Texas Water Development Board programs should be exempt from the general uniform grant and contract management standards that apply to state grants and contracts. Any disagreement would likely center on administrative flexibility for TWDB versus the consistency and oversight provided by statewide grant rules, but the record here does not identify named opponents or supporters.
Relating to the information required to be posted by the Texas Water Development Board on the board's Internet website regarding the use of the state water implementation fund for Texas.
Relating to the applicability of certain laws affecting indemnification agreements to certain contracts or agreements pertaining to electric utility infrastructure.