By: Schofield H.B. No. 4659       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an interim study of the financing of regional projects   and facilities to convert from groundwater to surface water.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  WORKING GROUP. (a) A working group is formed to   study, review, and report to the legislature on the methods for   financing or refinancing the regional water projects and facilities   to convert from groundwater to surface water.          (b)  The working group is composed of representatives of the   Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Public Finance Authority,   and the local governments in Harris and Fort Bend counties that have   borrowed money for surface water conversion projects from the Texas   Water Development Board. The participation of said local   governments is not mandatory and the lack of participation by any   local government shall not affect the ability of the working group   to proceed.          (c)  The chair of the Texas Water Development Board, or her   designee, shall serve as chair of the working group.          (d)  The working group shall convene at the call of the   chair.          (e)  All members of the Texas House or Texas Senate may   request to be kept informed of the working group's progress.          SECTION 2.  STUDY. The working group formed by this Act   shall study:                (1)  the extensive useful life of regional facilities   and improvements to convert from groundwater to surface water;                (2)  the comparatively short period of time of the   financing of the cost of such facilities;                (3)  the economic impact to current water users in   paying the costs of facilities that will provide service for future   water users;                (4)  the terms of current and anticipated financings of   the costs of facilities;                (5)  the goal of more even distribution of the costs so   that they are born by the users throughout the useful life of the   project;                (6)  the fairness and equity benefits to the water   users of extension of financings for longer periods of time   compared to the potential increase in financing costs;                (7)  methods for the financing and refinancing of   projects so that the cost of the projects are more evenly   distributed and born by the users throughout the useful life of the   project;                (8)  policies and procedures of the State and the Texas   Water Development Board that can better accomplish the goal of   better distribution of the cost burden;                (9)  whether the Texas Water Development Board's   financing terms and conditions of existing and future borrowings   can be improved to better accomplish the goal of better   distribution of the cost burden;                (10)  whether funding could be applied to refinance or   restructure existing financings;                (11)  whether costs of the projects could be fundied by   grants instead of loans or whether the State or the Texas Water   Development Board could forgive loans or portions of loans to   better accomplish the goal of better distribution of the cost   burden; and                (12)  whether potential measures that could further the   goal of more even distribution of the costs so that they are born by   the users throughout the useful life of the project are precluded by   state law, and what changes to state law would be necessary to   enable their adoption.          SECTION 3.  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) If the   working group determines that changes and improvements by the State   or its agencies, including the Texas Water Development Board, are   warranted and possible without further legislative authorization,   the working group shall seek implementation of those changes and   improvements.          (b)  Not later than September 1, 2024, the working group   formed by this Act shall report the working group's findings and   recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the   house of representatives, and the governor.          SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025.          SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect   immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members   elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas   Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for   immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.