AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 7, Increasing Investments in Texas’ Water Supply, by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock:

“Texas is the envy of America for our robust economy and rapid population growth. With rapid population growth and industrial development comes increased demand for water. Over the coming years, our state must meet the increased demand for water, so it is imperative to invest in the sustainable expansion of our water supply and related infrastructure.

“Last session, the Texas Legislature created the Texas Water Fund to fund water supply expansion. This session, the Texas Senate has added an additional $2.5 billion for the next biennium to address the water issue, while setting up a framework to invest $1 billion per year moving forward to meet the needs of our growing state. The complexity and massive demand required to meet our water needs is why the Senate and I are prioritizing SB 7 this session. The passage of this bill into law will go a long way to addressing the long-term water needs of our state.”

Senate Bill 7, by Sen. Charles Perry, expands the scope of the Texas Water Fund to include infrastructure development projects to transport and integrate new water supplies. SB 7 also modifies the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee to broaden the committee’s oversight to include multiple water-related funds and programs. Additionally, the bill requires strengthened reporting requirements, including biennial reports on fund usage, water project progress, and infrastructure development.