Bill allocates funds for conservation

Texas could get $2 billion in federal funds for conservation and restoration of its natural resources should two bills make it through the state legislature.

One of the bills, HJR 138, seeks to dedicate $2 billion of the Economic Stabilization Fund — which is expected to be more than $26 billion by fiscal year 2025 — to establish the Texas Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund is intended to protect natural resources, expand public park access and could be used to help acquire more land to expand parks.

The other bill filed, HB 3165, establishes a governing board led by the General Land Office to manage the fund. The board would also include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and Texas Water Development Board. The board would be responsible for providing grants for existing programs and projects.

State Rep. Justin Holland filed bills HJR 138 and HB 3165, and they have been referred to the state House committee on natural resources. If HJR 138 passes, Texans vote on the fund in November.

Texas loses more than 240,000 acres of agricultural and ranch lands each year to development, according to a Texas Land and Water Conservation Coalition news release and about 2.4 percent of Texas land is protected as parks, forests and other recreation spaces.

The bill sets guidelines of how the fund is to be used: At least 65 percent of the money is to be spent on conservation projects, no more than 25 percent can go to habitat restoration projects and no more than 25 percent can be used for public, state, local and non-profit run parks.

The legislation is backed by the Texas Land and Water Conservation Coalition which is made up of numerous water conservation, agricultural, wildlife and sportsmen’s organizations.