Relating to the definition of a rural political subdivision for purposes of the Texas Water Assistance Program.
SB 971 repeals the existing definition of "rural political subdivision" in the Texas Water Code that was established by a 2023 law. This change directly affects communities seeking eligibility for the Texas Water Assistance Program, which provides funding for water infrastructure projects. The bill removes the previous definition but does not specify a new one, leaving the program's eligibility criteria unchanged until a replacement definition is enacted. This procedural update was signed into law on June 20, 2025, and took effect immediately.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
2 edits
·
Jun 20, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was formatted from an 'Engrossed' version to an 'Enrolled' version, adding certification signatures and dates from legislative officers. No substantive policy changes were made to the bill's content regarding the Texas Water Assistance Program definition.
Scope change
No change to the bill's scope or applicability; only formatting and certification details were added.
TECHNICAL
Added certification signatures and dates from the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House, and Governor to finalize the bill as an enrolled version.
Removed sponsor names and bill number formatting from the original engrossed version.
Floor votes · House May 21, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
49
Key actions
15
Committee
11
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kevin Sparks
RRepublican
P
Stan Gerdes
RRepublican
Co
Adam Hinojosa
RRepublican
Co
CB
César Blanco
DDemocratic
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