Senate adopts Sunset Commission recommendations for Trinity River Authority

The Senate on Friday passed House Bill 15 35, which implements Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations to update governance and transparency for the Trinity River Authority of Texas (TRA).

Senator Blanco presented the bill and said it extends the authority’s sunset review date by 12 years and aligns the governing law with the authority’s current board size. The bill adds good‑governance measures used in other sunset reviews: requiring the governor to designate one board member to serve as board president, creating clear grounds and a process for removing a board member, establishing mandatory training for board members and requiring TRA to include public testimony on every regular meeting agenda and to maintain and publish procedures for receiving and resolving public complaints.

Nut graf: supporters said these reforms promote accountability and transparency for an agency that manages wholesale water and wastewater systems, the dam forming Lake Livingston, and regional water and flood‑planning functions.

Sponsor remarks framed the changes as aligning TRA with standard sunset recommendations to separate board strategic roles from staff operational responsibilities and to ensure access to complaint mechanisms. The Senate suspended the rules for immediate consideration and recorded a 31‑0 final passage vote.

Ending: with the Senate's approval the bill will move through enrollment steps for signature; the transcript did not record floor amendments or opposition in the excerpt provided.