H.B. No. 2759

	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology
	Network and creation of the TexMesonet Advisory Committee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 16.012(b), Water Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(b)  The executive administrator shall:
	(1)  determine suitable locations for future water
	facilities, including reservoir sites;
	(2)  determine suitable, cost-effective water supply
	alternatives on a regional basis, including voluntary means of
	encouraging aggressive water conservation;
	(3)  locate land best suited for irrigation;
	(4)  make estimates of the cost of proposed irrigation
	works and the improvement of reservoir sites;
	(5)  examine and survey reservoir sites;
	(6)  monitor the effects of fresh water inflows upon
	the bays and estuaries of Texas;
	(7)  monitor instream flows;
	(7-a)  monitor hydrometeorological conditions;
	(8)  lead a statewide effort, in coordination with
	federal, state, and local governments, institutions of higher
	education, and other interested parties, to develop a network for
	collecting and disseminating water resource-related information
	that is sufficient to support assessment of ambient water
	conditions statewide;
	(9)  make recommendations for optimizing the
	efficiency and effectiveness of water resource data collection and
	dissemination as necessary to ensure that basic water resource data
	are maintained and available for Texas; and
	(10)  make basic data and summary information developed
	under this subsection accessible to state agencies and other
	interested persons.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended
	by adding Section 16.026 to read as follows:
	Sec. 16.026.  TEXMESONET HYDROMETEOROLOGY NETWORK;
	TEXMESONET ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a) In this section, "network"
	means the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network.
	(b)  The executive administrator shall establish the
	TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network to provide a statewide
	resource for hydrometeorological data and summary information
	benefiting weather forecasting, flood preparedness, drought
	monitoring, wildfire management, water resources planning, water
	conservation, agricultural readiness and productivity, industrial
	readiness, and related business readiness and productivity across
	this state.
	(c)  The network shall:
	(1)  establish a series of stations throughout this
	state to monitor hydrometeorological conditions;
	(2)  coordinate mesoscale, evapotranspiration, and
	soil moisture monitoring efforts in this state by:
	(A)  collecting, receiving, analyzing,
	processing, and facilitating access to basic hydrometeorological
	data; and
	(B)  developing and disseminating products,
	tools, and summary information related to that data;
	(3)  serve as the centralized repository for
	hydrometeorological data in this state; and
	(4)  provide appropriate technical assistance related
	to the duties described by Subdivisions (1)-(3).
	(d)  The executive administrator may, on behalf of the
	network, enter into:
	(1)  any agreement with an individual or a federal,
	state, or local governmental entity to provide site location and
	access for earth observation stations; and
	(2)  a partnership with a public or private entity to
	provide additional funding and resources for improved access to and
	development of hydrometeorological data, products, and tools.
	(e)  Each state agency or political subdivision of this state
	that collects hydrometeorological information, including public
	institutions of higher education, shall cooperate with the network
	in the development of a coordinated, efficient, and effective
	statewide hydrometeorological data collection and dissemination
	resource.
	(f)  The executive administrator may establish the
	TexMesonet Advisory Committee to advise and make recommendations to
	the executive administrator on ensuring data quality and optimizing
	the efficiency and effectiveness of hydrometeorological data
	collection, product development, and dissemination of data and
	information.  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
	size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee.  Members
	of the advisory committee serve without compensation but are
	entitled to reimbursement for actual or necessary expenses incurred
	in performing functions as a member of the advisory committee
	subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by
	the General Appropriations Act.  The committee may include members
	representing the following entities or interest groups:
	(1)  the office of the state climatologist;
	(2)  the National Weather Service;
	(3)  existing hydrometeorological networks; and
	(4)  other appropriate entities.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2759 was passed by the House on April
	14, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 129, Nays 14, 2 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2759 was passed by the Senate on May
	10, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor