Relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office, the official text

H.B. No. 1089

AN ACT

relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be

administered by the General Land Office.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Natural Resources

Code, is amended by adding Section 31.070 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.070. GULF COAST PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The gulf

coast protection account is a dedicated account in the general

revenue fund administered by the land office under this section and

rules adopted by the land office.

(b) The gulf coast protection account consists of:

(1) money from gifts, donations, and grants; and

(2) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to

the account by the legislature.

(c) Money in the gulf coast protection account may be used

only to pay for expenditures that:

(1) are necessary to fulfill nonfederal sponsor

obligations under agreements with the United States Army Corps of

Engineers for implementing projects included in the plan

recommended by the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration

Feasibility Study Final Report and Final Environmental Impact

Statement dated August 2021 issued by the Galveston District,

Southwestern Division, of the United States Army Corps of Engineers

and the land office;

(2) comply with the terms of a local cooperation

agreement executed by the land office and the Gulf Coast Protection

District established under Chapter 9502, Special District Local

Laws Code; and

(3) are for projects that:

(A) are necessary or useful for the protection of

the portion of the gulf coast located within the territory of the

district; or

(B) would benefit the district and are designated

as Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects within the Coastal Texas

Study.

(d) The legislature finds that the expenditure of money in

the gulf coast protection account in accordance with Subsection (c)

serves a public purpose.

(e) The expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection

account is subject to audit by the state auditor.

SECTION 2. 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, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1089 was passed by the House on April

24, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 123, Nays 20, 2 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 1089 was passed by the Senate on May

9, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor