Bill > HB5325

This bill strengthens requirements for plat applications in Texas involving land subdivisions that rely on groundwater, requiring more rigorous documentation of water availability. Specifically, plat applications for subdivisions using groundwater must now include a statement prepared by a licensed engineer or geoscientist that not only certifies adequate groundwater is available, but also complies with new rules to be established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The bill empowers municipal authorities and county commissioners courts to disapprove plat applications that fail to demonstrate sufficient water availability or do not meet the new procedural requirements. In counties within priority groundwater management areas, commissioners courts can adopt additional water availability requirements to prevent water use from exceeding sustainable levels. The TCEQ is required to develop specific rules defining the form of certification and what constitutes credible evidence of groundwater availability by January 1, 2026, with the bill's provisions applying only to plat applications filed on or after that date. The goal appears to be preventing over-extraction of groundwater resources and ensuring sustainable development in areas with limited water supply.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB5325