According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 1268 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the primary agency responsible for implementing the bill, is assumed to be able to absorb any costs associated with updating guidance principles and rules within its existing budgetary resources. This suggests that no additional appropriations will be required to comply with the bill’s provisions.

For local governments, the bill is also not expected to create significant financial burdens. Since SB 1268 primarily deals with internal state agency rulemaking and planning procedures, counties, municipalities, and other local entities are unlikely to incur additional costs as a result of the legislation. The bill does not impose any unfunded mandates or require new infrastructure investments at the local level.

Overall, SB 1268 appears fiscally neutral, ensuring that regulatory updates to Texas' water planning system occur on a structured five-year cycle without imposing new costs on taxpayers or local governments. However, long-term administrative burdens or indirect costs—such as increased staffing needs for periodic rule reviews—could emerge over time, though they are not anticipated to be significant at this stage.

SB 1268 seeks to align the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) rule review process with its existing five-year planning cycles for state water and flood plans. By exempting these rules from the standard four-year agency review requirement, the bill aims to improve administrative efficiency and reduce inconsistencies in Texas’ long-term water and flood management efforts. The legislation provides explicit rulemaking authority to TWDB and mandates periodic updates in collaboration with relevant state agencies.

The bill does not directly impact individual liberty, free enterprise, or private property rights in a substantial way. It primarily focuses on internal regulatory adjustments and the timing of administrative rule reviews, making it more of a procedural change rather than a policy shift with broad economic or personal consequences. While some may express concerns about reduced legislative oversight, others may see this change as a practical adjustment that aligns regulatory cycles without introducing new mandates or burdens.

Given the limited impact on core liberty principles and the bill’s focus on procedural efficiency, Texas Policy Research is NEUTRAL on SB 1268. The bill does not significantly expand government authority, nor does it substantially advance or restrict free market participation. It is a modest administrative reform that neither strongly warrants support nor opposition, making neutral the most reasonable recommendation.

• HB 3628 (Similar To)