88R1160 ANG-F
 
  By: Harris of Anderson H.B. No. 2443
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of certain persons to petition a
  groundwater conservation district to change certain rules.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 36, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 36.1025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 36.1025.  PETITION TO CHANGE RULES. (a) A person with
  groundwater ownership and rights may petition the district where
  the property that gives rise to the ownership and rights is located
  to adopt a rule or modify a rule adopted under this chapter.
         (b)  A petition submitted under this section must include:
               (1)  an explanation of why the adoption or modification
  of the rule requested is necessary to be consistent with:
                     (A)  ownership and rights recognized under
  Section 36.002; or
                     (B)  conservation or beneficial use of the
  groundwater resources located in the district, in regard to either:
                           (i)  the entire district; or 
                           (ii)  an aquifer, subdivision of an aquifer,
  or geologic strata located in the district; and
               (2)  proof that the petitioner has complied with the
  notice requirements described by Subsection (c).
         (c)  A petitioner under this section must provide written
  notice of the petition to each person with groundwater ownership
  and rights in the geographic area that would be affected by the
  adoption or modification of the rule described in the petition.
         (d)  The district shall hold a hearing on a petition
  submitted under this section in the same manner as a rulemaking
  hearing described by Section 36.101.
         (e)  After a hearing held under Subsection (d), the district
  shall grant or deny the petition and may grant or deny the petition
  wholly or partly. The district shall provide an explanation for the
  action the district takes on the petition, including a
  determination about the consistency of the action with the concerns
  raised by the petitioner's explanation required by Subsection
  (b)(1).
         (f)  As soon as practicable after a petition or a portion of a
  petition is granted, the district shall engage in rulemaking
  consistent with the granted petition or the granted portion of the
  petition.
         (g)  A decision on a petition under Subsection (e) is final
  and appealable under Section 36.251.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.