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2025 · Regular session · Senate bill
SB480
SB480 expressly allows local governments to make joint water-research or planning agreements with other governments.
Official caption: Relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to participate in water research or planning activities.
Official report lists Senate author(s): Perry. This does not identify sponsors or amendment drafters.
Bill explanation published · Version and amendment review scope is stated below · Individual amendment records may not be separately annotated.
Bill highlights
Selected points from the published explanation. Follow each point to its source-linked context; conditions and limits may matter.
- SB480 expressly allows local governments to make joint water-research or planning agreements with other governments.
- Signed May 28, 2025, the bill took effect that day because it received the necessary two-thirds vote in both chambers: 31–0 in the Senate and 140–0 in the House, with two present but not voting.
What does it do?
SB480 expressly allows local governments to make joint water-research or planning agreements with other governments. A local government may contract with another local government, the state or the federal government to participate together in activities related to water resources. Participation is optional, not a requirement to join a particular project. New Government Code Section 791.038.
Signed May 28, 2025, the bill took effect that day because it received the necessary two-thirds vote in both chambers: 31–0 in the Senate and 140–0 in the House, with two present but not voting. History; Final votes and effective-date clause.
What changed along the way?
The introduced, Senate committee, engrossed, House committee and enrolled texts contain the same operative provisions. Both committees reported it without amendments, and the official amendment index lists no floor amendments. There is no abandoned substitute or floor proposal to describe as part of this law. All five versions; Amendment index.
For the full amendment record, open the official amendment index.
Official bill versions
Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.
Who could benefit—and who could bear the costs?
The authorization can help governments coordinate water studies and planning. It does not itself fund a project, require construction, change water rights or promise a particular increase in water supply. Costs and responsibilities depend on the agreements governments choose to make. Scope of the authorization.
The February 26 fiscal note anticipates no significant state impact, while recognizing that the state could incur costs if it chooses to participate. It also says local governments that choose to contract could be affected; it gives no dollar estimate. Optional participation is not the same as a guarantee that every agreement will be cost-free. Only indexed fiscal note.
Official sources
- Bill history and latest recorded action
- Bill versions, analyses and fiscal notes
- Action history and votes
- Amendment index
Catalog report retrieved 2026-10-25. Check the official record for corrections or later changes.
