BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4931

By: Virdell

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under the rules of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), a waste injection well cannot be authorized if the well transects or terminates in the Edwards Aquifer. This prohibition applies to recently proposed aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) injection wells that would transect the Edwards Aquifer to inject treated surface water into deeper geologic formations underlying the Edwards Aquifer for purposes of providing much-needed water supply to this high-growth area of the state. H.B. 4931 seeks to authorize the TCEQ to approve an ASR project in Medina County for injection of water into a geologic formation underlying the Edwards Aquifer.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4931 amends the Water Code to provide for the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to authorize by rule or permit an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project that includes an ASR injection well, defined by reference as a Class V injection well used for the injection of water into a geologic formation as part of an ASR project, that transects the Edwards Aquifer in Medina County for the injection of water into a geologic formation that underlies the Edwards Aquifer. The bill specifies that the methods by which the TCEQ may authorize other injections of water with respect to the Edwards Aquifer, as authorized under current law, include by permit. The bill requires the TCEQ to adopt rules to implement the bill's provisions not later than March 1, 2026.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.