Texas 89th Legislature
Water
8 high-impact bills require immediate attention. 28 bills have bipartisan support.
High-Impact Bills
8 bills require immediate attention
Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties.
Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.
Relating to penalties in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district; increasing a penalty.
Relating to outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to the enforcement of drought contingency plans by water and sewer utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Water Filing Activity
Compliance & Cost
Leading Authors
All Bills (41)
Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties.
Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties.
Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.
Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally owned utilities to the Texas Water Development Board; authorizing administrative penalties.
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
Relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office.
Relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office.
Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.
Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.
Relating to the joint planning of desired future conditions in groundwater management areas.
Relating to the joint planning of desired future conditions in groundwater management areas.
Relating to the review of the duties of a groundwater conservation district by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the review of the duties of a groundwater conservation district by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.
Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry.
Relating to the management and operation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.
Relating to the management and operation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.
Relating to the compensation of the directors of the Texana Groundwater Conservation District.
Relating to the compensation of the directors of the Texana Groundwater Conservation District.
Relating to the regulation of artesian water wells by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the regulation of artesian water wells by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, the change of the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, the dissolution of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.
Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, the change of the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, the dissolution of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.
Relating to penalties in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district; increasing a penalty.
Relating to penalties in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district; increasing a penalty.
Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Driftwood Conservation District.
Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Driftwood Conservation District.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.
Relating to outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas.
Relating to outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas.
Relating to making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and preparedness and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding those appropriations.
Relating to making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and preparedness and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding those appropriations.
Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
Relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board.
Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and developers for certain water conservation and reuse projects.
Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and developers for certain water conservation and reuse projects.
Relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to participate in water research or planning activities.
Relating to the authority of a local government to enter into an interlocal contract with certain governmental entities to participate in water research or planning activities.
Relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.
Relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.
Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.
Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.
Relating to the definition of a rural political subdivision for purposes of the Texas Water Assistance Program.
Relating to the definition of a rural political subdivision for purposes of the Texas Water Assistance Program.
Relating to permit fees for groundwater wells imposed by the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District.
Relating to permit fees for groundwater wells imposed by the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District.
Relating to procedural requirements for uranium mining production area authorizations.
Relating to procedural requirements for uranium mining production area authorizations.
Relating to exempting certain transactions from regulation by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
Relating to exempting certain transactions from regulation by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
Relating to creating the Central Texas Water Alliance; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain; providing authority to impose fees.
Relating to creating the Central Texas Water Alliance; providing authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain; providing authority to impose fees.
Relating to the financing of water supply projects included in the state water plan; authorizing the issuance of obligations.
Relating to the financing of water supply projects included in the state water plan; authorizing the issuance of obligations.
Relating to the review and updating by the Texas Water Development Board of guidance principles and rules related to certain plans adopted or approved by the board.
Relating to the review and updating by the Texas Water Development Board of guidance principles and rules related to certain plans adopted or approved by the board.
Relating to the licensing and regulation of pilots in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district located in Cameron County.
Relating to the licensing and regulation of pilots in the jurisdiction of the pilot board of a navigation district located in Cameron County.
Relating to the information required to be posted by the Texas Water Development Board on the board's Internet website regarding the use of the state water implementation fund for Texas.
Relating to the information required to be posted by the Texas Water Development Board on the board's Internet website regarding the use of the state water implementation fund for Texas.
Relating to management plans adopted by groundwater conservation districts.
Relating to management plans adopted by groundwater conservation districts.
Relating to the ship channel improvement revolving fund.
Relating to the ship channel improvement revolving fund.
Relating to the provision of financial assistance by the Texas Water Development Board for certain projects.
Relating to the provision of financial assistance by the Texas Water Development Board for certain projects.
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
Relating to the applicability of uniform grant and contract management standards to certain Texas Water Development Board programs.
Relating to the applicability of uniform grant and contract management standards to certain Texas Water Development Board programs.
Relating to an exemption of the transfer of certain rights in water from certain disclosure requirements applicable to the transfer of certain interests in real property.
Relating to an exemption of the transfer of certain rights in water from certain disclosure requirements applicable to the transfer of certain interests in real property.
Relating to the enforcement of drought contingency plans by water and sewer utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Relating to the enforcement of drought contingency plans by water and sewer utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Relating to the use of reclaimed water that has been treated to meet certain standards as part of an aquifer storage and recovery project.
Relating to the use of reclaimed water that has been treated to meet certain standards as part of an aquifer storage and recovery project.
Relating to the composition of the board of directors and the powers of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District.
Relating to the composition of the board of directors and the powers of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws on water passed in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 41 laws related to water. These bills were authored by 26 different legislators and address various aspects of water policy in Texas.
- Did water bills originate in the Texas House or Senate?
- Water legislation from the 89th Legislature includes 25 Senate bills and 16 House bills. Both chambers contributed significant legislation on this topic.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most water bills?
- The leading authors of water legislation include Sen. Charles Perry (R) with 6 bills, Sen. Cesar Blanco (D) with 3 bills, Rep. Stan Gerdes (R) with 3 bills. These lawmakers have demonstrated particular focus on water issues during the 89th Legislature.
- How urgent are the compliance requirements for water legislation?
- Among the 41 water bills enacted, 6 have critical compliance urgency and 19 have moderate urgency. Businesses should prioritize reviewing high-urgency bills for immediate compliance planning.
- What subjects are related to water in Texas law?
- Water legislation frequently overlaps with Water--general, Water--development, Special Districts & Authorities. Bills often address multiple related policy areas, so reviewing these connected subjects may provide additional context.
- Is there bipartisan support for water legislation in Texas?
- Yes, 28 of the 41 water bills (68%) have bipartisan sponsorship, with both Republican and Democrat sponsors. This indicates areas of cross-party agreement on water policy.
- When do Texas water laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified. Some water bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation schedules. Review individual bills for specific effective dates and compliance deadlines.
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