The governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller and speaker of the Texas House meet Sept. 8 as the state’s bond review board to take up a water bond sale capped at $2.2 billion — the money behind the next round of projects in the state water plan.
The Texas Water Development Board sells bonds each fall to stock the state’s main water financing program, which lends to cities and water districts at below-market rates. Demand this year ran well ahead of the money. Twenty-seven applications from cities, water districts and river authorities asked for $4.3 billion; staff found 23 of them eligible, then invited only the ten highest-ranked projects to apply in full. Counting older multi-year commitments, staff estimated in April that about $2.49 billion of financing would seek to close this fall — more than the $2.2 billion maximum the water agency’s own staff has recommended for the sale. Pricing is scheduled for Sept. 23 and 24.
The agenda marks the water item exempt, meaning the sale does not need this board’s formal approval. That is not quite the end of it. Under the board’s own rule on exempt issues, a written request from any one member, made within six business days of the notice reaching the board, forces the deal back into the full approval process. The water agency’s staff memo lists bond review board approval as required and says the answer will arrive before investors see the offering document.
Two refinancings do need approval. Both come from the Texas Public Finance Authority, the state’s in-house bond bank, whose own Sept. 3 agenda named one series for the commission that manages state buildings and the other for the health and human services agency. What no public document says is which batch of short-term debt each series would pay off, or how large either will be. Sept. 8 is a planning session; the board’s next regular meeting is Sept. 17.
Also up: as much as $20 million for an affordable apartment development on Wycliff Avenue in Dallas, which the state housing agency would issue on the developer’s behalf, and a lease-purchase of Dell equipment for the health agency. Routine equipment reaches this board because state law treats a lease-purchase above $250,000, or one running more than five years, as state debt needing its sign-off.
Meeting at a glance
- When
- 10:00 a.m. CT Tuesday, September 8, 2026. This is a planning session; the board’s next regular meeting is Sept. 17. The notice was filed August 28 at 1:02 p.m.
- Where
- Room 402, William P. Clements Jr. Building, 300 W. 15th St., Austin, and by videoconference.
- Governing body & chair
- Texas Bond Review Board — four members who sit by virtue of the offices they hold rather than by appointment to the board. Gov. Greg Abbott presides. Each may send a designee. Rob Latsha is executive director.
- Format
- In person, with the presiding member at the posted location; other members may join by videoconference. Public comment is limited to three minutes; the notice asks speakers to email brbbfo@brb.texas.gov in advance. The board may close the meeting under the Open Meetings Act.
- Live video
- Public Zoom webinar; registration required. An audio recording is available on request.
- Full agenda
- Secretary of State Open Meeting Viewer · board’s agenda
Board members
- Greg Abbott — presiding officer; governor; alternate Jimmy Anderson.
- Dan Patrick — lieutenant governor; alternate Joaquin Guadarrama.
- Don Huffines — comptroller since Aug. 1; alternate Kimberly Edwards.
- Dustin Burrows — speaker of the House, Lubbock; alternate Andrew Blifford.
The board’s membership is fixed by Chapter 1231 of the Government Code, which names the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker and comptroller and makes the governor presiding officer. Names and alternates come from the board’s members page. Don Huffines was appointed comptroller by the governor in July and took office Aug. 1; he is also on the November ballot for the office. Meeting contact: Rob Latsha, (512) 463-1741.