Texas Gov. David Acton said flood control and local infrastructure will be a central priority when the State Legislature returns, calling for state support for cities, counties and drainage districts with projects ready to move forward.

In a press release issued from Austin, Acton said communities that repeatedly experience flooded roads and homes often already have plans for drainage and mitigation work but need additional funding. He said his office will spend the coming weeks listening to local governments and other entities with projects awaiting support.

“A lot of cities and counties already know which streets go under and which houses take water every few years,” Acton said in the release. “They have plans sitting there. What they need is a state that will help pay for the work, not tell them to wait.”

Acton pointed to flooding events in 2024 as examples of the problem. According to the release, heavy rains in April and May that year caused major river flooding across East Texas and areas north of Houston. The San Jacinto River reached some of its highest crests in decades, while neighborhoods in Montgomery and Harris counties took on water. The release also cited high-volume releases from Lake Livingston.

The governor also referenced Hurricane Beryl, which moved inland over the Gulf Coast in July 2024. Acton’s office said the storm flooded streets, prompted water rescues and caused power outages affecting millions.

“We watched this in 2024. East Texas rivers, Harris County neighborhoods, then Beryl on the coast,” Acton said. “People lost time, money, and in some cases the use of their homes. That is the problem I want us working on.”

Acton did not identify a specific bill, spending level, funding source or timetable for flood-control aid. His statement instead outlined a general approach centered on projects that have local financial backing and are prepared for construction or implementation.

He named drainage improvements, detention projects and voluntary buyouts among the types of work he expects lawmakers to consider. Such projects can vary substantially by community, with local governments and drainage districts often identifying priorities based on recurring flood risks, development patterns and available local funding.

“I am not interested in a statewide lecture,” Acton said. “If a local government is putting up its own money and has a drainage, detention, or buyout project ready to go, the State ought to be in a position to help.”

Under the state’s legislative structure, measures affecting Texas would be considered by the combined State Legislature, where members from all states may vote while results are weighted against each state’s party composition. As governor, Acton is also a voting member of that body.

The announcement places flood mitigation alongside broader local infrastructure as an issue Acton intends to raise next session. Whether the proposal develops into new appropriations, a matching-grant program or another form of state assistance remains unspecified in the governor’s release.