By: Kitzman (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 4630

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 19, 2025; May 19, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs; May 23, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 23, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of artesian water wells by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 7.142(a) and (b), Water Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates:

(1) Section 11.081;

(2) Section 11.083;

(3) Section 11.084;

(4) Section 11.087;

(5) Section 11.088;

(6) Section 11.089;

(7) Section 11.090;

(8) Section 11.091;

(9) Section 11.092;

(10) Section 11.093;

(11) Section 11.094;

(12) Section 11.096; or

(13) [Section 11.203; or

[(14)] Section 11.205.

(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(9), (a)(10), or (a)(13) [(a)(14)] is punishable under Section 7.187(a)(1)(A) or (2)(B) [Section 7.187(1)(A) or Section 7.187(2)(B)] or both.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 11, Water Code, is amended by adding Section 11.2011 to read as follows:

Sec. 11.2011. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter, other than Sections 11.202(c) and 11.206, applies only to an artesian well drilled outside the boundaries of a groundwater conservation district, subsidence district, or other conservation and reclamation district with the authority to regulate the drilling, spacing, or production of water wells.

SECTION 3. The following provisions of the Water Code are repealed:

(1) Sections 11.202(d) and (e);

(2) Section 11.203;

(3) Section 11.204; and

(4) Section 11.207.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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