Federal Level
The following legislation related to the S2G Project has been enacted at the federal level:
- Section 1401 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018 authorized the S2G project for design and construction.
- The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 fully funded the S2G Project.
The following legislation related to the Coastal Texas Project has been enacted at the federal Level:
- Section 8401 of WRDA 2022 authorized the Coastal Texas project for design and construction.
State Level
In 2019, the 86th regular session of the Texas Legislature advanced the S2G Project in two pieces of legislation:
- SB 2212, authored by Senator Larry Taylor, allowed Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7, the Velasco Drainage District, and the Orange County Drainage District to become non-federal sponsors and to sign PPAs with the USACE.
- SB 500, a supplemental budget bill introduced by Senator Jane Nelson, appropriated $200M as non-federal cost-share for the S2G Project.
In 2021, the 87th regular session of the Texas Legislature advanced the Coastal Texas Project and the S2G Project in two pieces of legislation:
- SB 1160, authored by Senator Larry Taylor, created the GCPD to be the non-federal sponsor for portions of the Coastal Texas Project and the S2G Project, specifically coastal storm risk management components within the District’s established territory.
- SB 1, the general budget bill introduced by Senator Jane Nelson, appropriated $200 million to these two projects and for GCPD administrative costs.
In 2023, the 88th regular session of the Texas Legislature advanced the Coastal Texas Project and the S2G Project in two pieces of legislation:
- HB 1, the general appropriations bill advanced by Chairs Bonnen and Huffman, appropriated $550M to these two projects and for GCPD administrative costs.
- HB 5409, amended the District’s authorizing language to clarify procedures related to the composition of the Board of Directors should additional counties elect to join the GCPD.