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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption of a water conservation program by a |
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county. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 562, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter C to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C. WATER CONSERVATION |
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Sec. 562.051. WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. (a) |
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Definitions. In this section: |
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(1) "Agricultural operation" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 251.002, Agriculture Code. |
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(2) "Priority groundwater management area" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 35.002, Water Code. |
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(b) This section applies to a county that has territory |
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within a priority groundwater management area. |
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(c) The commissioners court of a county by order may adopt a |
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water conservation program. A water conservation program adopted |
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under this section may establish for the unincorporated area of the |
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county or areas within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a city |
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only: |
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(1) rules for residential water use restrictions; and |
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(2) water conservation standards applicable to the |
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residential development of a subdivision of a tract of land, the |
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development of which begins after August 31, 2023. |
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(d) Water use restrictions established under Subsection |
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(c)(1) may not apply to an agricultural operation. |
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(e) To the extent of a conflict between a county order |
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adopted under this section and a municipal ordinance regulating the |
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same conduct, the ordinance prevails. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |