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Read. Follow. Verify.Texas Restructures Governance of Harris County Flood Control District and Establishes Path for Territorial Expansion
Last action · August 20, 2025: Referred to Disaster Preparedness & FloodingSponsor: Dennis Paul
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 204 restructures the governance of the Harris County Flood Control District by replacing the commissioners court with a five-member appointed board and establishes a framework for the district to potentially expand into adjacent counties via an election by September 1, 2028. The measure outlines board member qualifications, terms, and officers, and updates district powers regarding property removal, environmental projects, and bond issuance.
Residents of Harris County and adjacent counties face changes in how flood control infrastructure is managed, financed, and potentially expanded across county lines, altering local oversight and future property tax implications related to flood management.
- The Harris County Flood Control District was originally created in 1937 by the Texas Legislature to manage flood and storm waters within Harris County. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Harris County residents
Residents experience a change in local governance of flood control operations from elected commissioners to an appointed board, along with potential tax and infrastructure impacts.
Residents of counties adjacent to Harris County
Residents in counties adjacent to Harris County may be included in the district following an election and local petition process.
Property owners in Harris County
Property owners are subject to district rules, potential property removal from easements, and tax assessments governed by the new board.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who governs the Harris County Flood Control District under this bill?
Can the district expand beyond Harris County?
Are board members paid for their service?
What happens to unauthorized property placed on district land or easements?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Aug 20, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding
- Aug 20, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Aug 18, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Transition from Commissioners Court to Appointed Board
The legislation shifts administrative and governing control of the Harris County Flood Control District away from the elected Harris County Commissioners Court to a newly created appointed board.
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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