AUSTIN — Governor David Acton recently filed the Texas Community Flood Match Act, a two-year program to match local money for drainage, detention, and voluntary buyouts in zip codes that have flooded at least three times in ten years.

“Local governments already know which streets and houses take water,” Acton said. “This puts a limited amount of state money on the table if they put up their own dollars and have a project ready.”

The bill creates a $180 million hard cap. Unspent funds return to general revenue. The state may pay no more than half of a project. Local dollars must be taxes, fees, bonds, or cash—not federal grants or staff time. Extra local money scores higher. No city or county is required to apply, raise a tax, or change land-use rules.

Eligible work is channels, storm sewers, detention basins, and voluntary buyouts with a no-rebuild deed in the floodway. Sellers get at least the pre-flood tax value or a current appraisal. Two competitive rounds will be scored in public on flood history, structures protected, local share, readiness, and cost. Climate or equity statements earn no points.

Caps: $90 million per round, $12 million per applicant, $35 million per county. Overhead is limited to 3 percent. The program sunsets in 24 months. Keeping it would take a new bill. The Act takes effect when the Governor approves it.

“This is a match, not a mandate, and it ends on its own,” Acton said. “If it works, communities get ditches and buyouts built. If it does not, the money goes back.”

Acton is the sponsor. There are no cosponsors yet.