The Texas legislature is in session, and on Wednesday, the House will take action to create a special account that will support funding for the Ike Dike and potentially take funds away from other important coastal restoration projects. Read below to learn more about the bill and how to take action.
HB1089/SB795 Relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office
Background: In 2021, the 87th Texas legislature created the Gulf Coast Protection District. This is a multi-county special district that along with the Texas General Land Office is responsible for raising 35% of the funds to design and build the Ike Dike, along with other major portions of the otherwise federally-funded and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-led Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study. The cost of the Ike Dike and related projects is estimated at $57 billion. The Texas legislature has appropriated $950 million toward its 35% (or $20 billion) share, and the federal government has allocated only $500,000 toward their 65% (or $37 billion) share. Recently, the federal government has announced potential cuts to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ budget, and local Congressional representatives have expressed concerns that this signals further federal resistance to funding the Ike Dike.
In this legislative session, House Bill 1089, sponsored by Representative Paul of Houston, and Senate Bill 795, an identical companion bill sponsored by Senator Alvarado of Houston, would create a special gulf coast protection account, to be administered by the General Land Office. This account would be used to hold funds that may be allocated towards meeting some of the 35% cost share of projects associated with the Ike Dike. The House Committee on Natural Resources received testimony on House Bill 1089 on March 26, 2025, and the bill moved forward without amendments. The Senate Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 795, an identical companion bill sponsored by Senator Alvarado of Houston, on April 16, 2025, and the bill is currently “Left pending in committee.” The full House will vote on House Bill 1089 on Wednesday, April 23.
Position: Bayou City Waterkeeper is opposed to the bill because (1) Texas should not allocate further funding to the Ike Dike given that the federal government, which is responsible for ⅔ of the total $57 billion cost, has only allocated $500,000 to support the project and (2) if the bill does move forward, it may take funding away from other coastal restoration projects that are not waiting on substantial federal funding. Read our testimony on House Bill 1089.
Take action:
- Call or email your legislator and express your opposition to House Bill 1089. You can explain:
- Texas should not allocate further funding to the Ike Dike given that the federal government, which is responsible for 2/3 of the total $57 billion cost, has only allocated $500,000 to support the project and
- The account set up at the GLO through House Bill 1089 should not be allowed to receive funding dedicated to other coastal restoration programs (such as CEPRA, GOMESA, CMP, and others). .
- Instead, the House should prioritize funding for coastal restoration projects that that rely on nature-based investment, reduce industrial risks, and center the needs of coastal communities
- Share this with your community networks
Resources:
- Find your Texas House Representative: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
- Template email
Bayou City Waterkeeper protects the waters and people across the greater Houston region through bold legal action, community science, and creative, grassroots policy to further justice, health, and safety for our region. Bayou City Waterkeeper is a member of the Surge Forward coalition, made up of local and regional community organizations in the Houston-Galveston Region committed to advocating better solutions than the proposed Ike Dike, also known as the Coastal Barrier. The coalition focuses on promoting alternative approaches to coastal resilience that rely on nature-based investment, reduce industrial risks, and center the needs of coastal communities. To learn more, read Surge Forward’s one-pager and sign up for our community email list.