Relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain dams or reservoirs operated and maintained for the purposes of erosion, floodwater, and sediment control.

SB 43 exempts certain local water management districts from needing permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to build or maintain small dams and reservoirs. Specifically, it applies to "qualified local sponsors" (like districts created under Texas Constitution Article III or XVI) operating dams with normal storage under 200 acre-feet for erosion, floodwater, and sediment control. The bill allows these entities to construct, maintain, and divert water for repairs without TCEQ permits, while ensuring the exemption continues even if their federal USDA agreement ends. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must adopt implementing rules by April 2026.