By: Gerdes (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 1689

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 24, 2025; April 28, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs; May 5, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 5, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of certain groundwater export fees collected by a groundwater conservation district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 36.207, Water Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(b) A district may use funds obtained from the amount that an export fee is increased under Section 36.122(e-1) on or after January 1, 2024, only for costs related to assessing and addressing impacts associated with groundwater development, including:

(1) maintaining operability of wells significantly affected by groundwater development, including wells located outside the district;

(2) developing or distributing alternative water supplies; and

(3) conducting aquifer monitoring, data collection, and aquifer science.

(c) A district may use funds described by Subsection (b) to maintain the operability of wells described by Subsection (b)(1) that are located in another district only if the district enters into an interlocal contract under Chapter 791, Government Code, with the other district authorizing the funds to be used for that purpose.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

* * * * *