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HB 2326

Relating to requiring the board members of the Texas Water Development Board to be elected by the qualified voters at a general election instead of appointed by the governor.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Ben Bumgarner and 9 co-sponsors

HB 2326 replaces gubernatorial appointment with voter election for Texas Water Development Board members, shifting control of the state's water infrastructure funding to direct democracy rather than executive appointment.

Referred to Natural Resources
#elections--general(i0310) #stateofficers(i0761) #waterdevelopmentboard #texas(v2481) #water--development(i0875) #water--general(i0885)
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Bill Summary · HB 2326

Legislative bill overview

HB 2326 would fundamentally change how the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is governed by replacing gubernatorial appointment with direct election of board members by voters in a general election. Currently, the governor appoints TWDB members, who oversee critical water infrastructure and financing in Texas.

Why is this important

The TWDB controls billions in water bonds and determines funding priorities for water projects across Texas, making it one of the state's most influential agencies. This change would democratize decision-making on water infrastructure but could shift power away from the executive branch to voters, potentially affecting how water resources are allocated regionally.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative feasibility: Creating statewide elections for a specialized technical board raises questions about voter knowledge of complex water policy and how many candidates would run
  • Political fragmentation: Direct election could make the board more politically volatile and less insulated from partisan pressures compared to gubernatorial appointment
  • Geographic representation: Unclear whether an at-large election would ensure fair representation for water needs across Texas's diverse regions (urban, rural, agricultural)
  • Consistency with state structure: Most specialized state boards use appointment models; this breaks from typical Texas governance patterns

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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