Relating to creating the Central Texas Water Alliance; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain; providing authority to impose fees.
SB 1194 creates the Central Texas Water Alliance, a regional water authority designed to manage water resources across multiple jurisdictions. The bill grants the Alliance the power to issue bonds for funding projects, acquire land through eminent domain, and charge fees for water services. It directly affects local governments (cities, counties) and private entities that join as members, focusing on groundwater, surface water, and treated wastewater systems. The Alliance’s operations are structured under Texas Constitution Section 59 to address regional water needs through concrete infrastructure and resource management. This legislation became effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature on May 15, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed May 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
1 edit
·
May 15, 2025
MINOR
This bill was converted from an 'Engrossed' version to an 'Enrolled' version, which is the final version prepared for the Governor's signature. The substantive policy content of the bill remains unchanged, but the formatting was standardized to remove draft markings and page numbers. The bill creates the Central Texas Water Alliance, grants it powers to issue bonds and exercise eminent domain, and establishes rules for adding or removing sponsors.
TECHNICAL
Formatting and markup were cleaned up to reflect the final enrolled version, removing draft annotations, page numbers, and editorial marks that were present in the engrossed version.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2025 · House Apr 29, 2025
How they voted
26–3
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 30
Mar 27, 2025
D
Democratic10
100% Yea
R
Republican20
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
48
Key actions
15
Committee
9
May 15, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 29, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (119-25-1)
house
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Signed into law
Transmitted to the Governor
upper
4 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Brad Buckley
RRepublican
P
David Spiller
RRepublican
P
Hillary Hickland
RRepublican
P
Pat Curry
RRepublican
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