Texas Water Caucus Elects new Chair and Welcomes First Senator; Water Remains Top Priority for Texas
February 6, 2025
Media Contact: Haley Durbin
haley@hdstrats.com, 713-476-1172
AUSTIN – Last week, the Texas Water Caucus –a nonpartisan educational platform supporting the next generation of water champions and ensuring water is prioritized –unanimously elected Representative Stan Kitzman as its new Chairman and amended its bylaws to make the Caucus bicameral, allowing for the addition of its first Senate member.
Following the successful launch of the Texas Water Caucus in 2023, interest has grown in the education-only caucus at the start of the 89th Legislative Session and includes seventy-four new and returning members from the Texas House of Representatives.
Representative Stan Kitzman follows Texas Water Caucus founder and former Representative Tracy O. King. As a water professional and former school teacher from House District 85, Kitzman served on the House Natural Resources Committee last session and is committed to the Caucus mission of providing water education to more members.
Senator Charles Perry, water infrastructure funding champion, joins the Texas Water Caucus as its first Senate member.
“I have not found anyone who does not know that it is time to prioritize water,” said Chairman Charles Perry, Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs and author of the anticipated legislation for dedicated water infrastructure funding. “A bicameral Texas Water Caucus tells me that leadership understands how important water is this legislative session.”
As one of the fastest growing states in the nation and one of the strongest economies in the world, Texas’ increasing and concentrated growth demands greater access to more reliable, more secure supplies.
“It has never been more important to prioritize water,” said Texas Water Caucus House Chair Stan Kitzman. “Our state’s future depends on us addressing our water security now.”
In November 2023, Texas voters approved the creation of the Texas Water Fund and unlocked $1 billion to help finance water infrastructure. Since then, water champions across the state have worked towards further investment in the Texas Water Fund, citing over $150 billion of critical water infrastructure needs.
Earlier this month, Governor Greg Abbott announced a “Texas sized investment in water infrastructure” as an emergency priority. This announcement, coupled with Senate and House budget allocations, signals a generational opportunity to secure dedicated and continuous funding for water infrastructure.
“Last session’s Senate Bill 28 and the creation of the Texas Water Fund set the table. This year, we have the opportunity to close the gap on water infrastructure funding needs,” said Senator Charles Perry.
“Water security continues to be a nonpartisan challenge of growing importance,” said Sarah Schlessinger, Texas Water Foundation CEO. “An increased interest in and support for the prioritization of water is encouraging.”
Texas Water Caucus House members include:
Representative Daniel Alders (HD 6)
Representative Rafael Anchía (HD 103)
Representative Trent Ashby (HD 9)
Representative Jeff Barry (HD 29)
Representative Keith Bell (HD 4)
Representative Salman Bhojani (HD 92)
Representative Rhetta Bowers (HD 113)
Representative John Bryant (HD 114)
Representative Brad Buckley (HD 54)
Representative John H. Bucy III (HD 136)
Representative Elizabeth Campos (HD 119)
Representative Terry Canales (HD 40)
Representative Tom Craddick (HD 82)
Representative Charles Cunningham (HD 127)
Representative Pat Curry (HD 56)
Representative Drew Darby (HD 72)
Representative Aicha Davis (HD 109)
Representative Jay Dean (HD 7)
Representative Mark Dorazio (HD 122)
Representative Paul Dyson (HD 14)
Representative Caroline Fairly (HD 87)
Representative Lulu Flores (HD 51)
Representative James B. Frank (HD 69)
Representative Erin Gámez (HD 38)
Representative Stan Gerdes (HD 17)
Representative Mary Gonzalez (HD 75)
Representative Vikki Goodwin (HD 47)
Representative Bobby Guerra (HD 41)
Representative Cody Harris (HD 8)
Representative Hillary Hickland (HD 55)
Representative Andy Hopper (HD 64)
Representative Donna Howard (HD 48)
Representative Carrie Isaac (HD 73)
Representative Jolanda "Jo" Jones (HD 147)
Representative Charlene Ward Johnson (HD 139)
Representative Stan Kitzman (HD 85)
Representative Marc LaHood (HD 121)
Representative Suleman Lalani (HD 76)
Representative Stan Lambert (HD 71)
Representative Brooks Landgraf (HD 81)
Representative Oscar Longoria (HD 35)
Representative Janie Lopez (HD 37)
Representative Ray Lopez (HD 125)
Representative John Lujan (HD 118)
Representative Armando Martinez (HD 39)
Representative Don McLaughlin (HD 80)
Representative Will Metcalf (HD 16)
Representative Terry Meza (HD 105)
Representative Eddie Morales (HD 74)
Representative Christina Morales (HD 145)
Representative Penny Morales Shaw (HD 148)
Representative Candy Noble (HD 89)
Representative Claudia Ordaz (HD 76)
Representative Angelia Orr (HD 13)
Representative Vincent Perez (HD 77)
Representative Mihaela Plesa (HD 70)
Representative Ana-Maria Ramos (HD 102)
Representative Richard P. Raymond (HD 42)
Representative Ramón Romero (HD 90)
Representative Joanne Shofner (HD 11)
Representative Shelby Slawson (HD 59)
Representative David Spiller (HD 68)
Representative Carl Tepper (HD 84)
Representative Senfronia Thompson (HD 141)
Representative Tony Tinderholt (HD 94)
Representative Ellen Troxclair (HD 19)
Representative Chris Turner (HD 101)
Representative Gary VanDeaver (HD 1)
Representative Cody Vasut (HD 25)
Representative Denise Villalobos (HD 34)
Representative Wes Virdell (HD 53)
Representative Armando Walle (HD 140)
Representative Trey Wharton (HD 12)
Representative Erin Zwiener (HD 45)
To learn more about the Texas Water Caucus, contact Alan Leonard at alan@texaswater.org. For more information on Texas Water Foundation, visit www.texaswater.org.
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Texas Water Foundation is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to lead Texas into a sustainable water future. Established in 1998, its original objective was to raise public awareness among all Texans regarding the vital role water plays in our daily lives. Today, Texas Water Foundation has grown its vision to include investing in the next generation of water leaders, equipping informed decision makers, and inspiring water advocates across Texas.