Industry Focus
Water
Legislation affecting water rights, utilities, conservation, infrastructure, and environmental quality.
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 making supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding appropriations.
Relating to making supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding appropriations.
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 the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture.
Relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for cultivated oyster mariculture.
Relating to certificates of title for certain outboard motors.
Relating to certificates of title for certain outboard motors.
Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer service for certain entities.
Relating to rates established by municipalities for water or sewer service for certain entities.
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 renewal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain expired occupational licenses and registrations.
Relating to the renewal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of certain expired occupational licenses and registrations.
Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.
Relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.
Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water or sewer service in an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality.
Relating to a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide water or sewer service in an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality.
Relating to the creation of the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District; providing the authority to issue bonds.
Relating to the creation of the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District; providing the authority to issue bonds.
Relating to the Trinity River Authority of Texas, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission; specifying grounds for the removal of a member of the board of directors.
Relating to the Trinity River Authority of Texas, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission; specifying grounds for the removal of a member of the board of directors.
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 nonsubstantive revision of certain local laws concerning water and wastewater special districts, including a conforming amendment.
Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain local laws concerning water and wastewater special districts, including a conforming amendment.
Relating to the criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit or permit amendment.
Relating to the criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit or permit amendment.
Relating to the use of certain groundwater export fees collected by a groundwater conservation district.
Relating to the use of certain groundwater export fees collected by a groundwater conservation district.
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 the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.
Relating to the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.
Relating to test years used for ratemaking purposes by certain water and sewer utilities.
Relating to test years used for ratemaking purposes by certain water and sewer utilities.
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 establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.
Relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.
Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to recycling of certain renewable energy components; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to recycling of certain renewable energy components; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain river segments and drainage areas.
Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain river segments and drainage areas.
Relating to the Rio Grande vegetative management program.
Relating to the Rio Grande vegetative management program.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to subdivision plat requirements in certain counties; authorizing a fee; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to the dissolution of the Rose City Municipal Utility District.
Relating to the dissolution of the Rose City Municipal Utility District.
Relating to the installation and operation of intermediate bulk container recycling facilities; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the installation and operation of intermediate bulk container recycling facilities; authorizing a fee.
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 certain residential property interests controlled by certain entities.
Relating to certain residential property interests controlled by certain entities.
Relating to the projects undertaken by a public improvement district, municipal management district, water control and improvement district, fresh water supply district, or municipal utility district.
Relating to the projects undertaken by a public improvement district, municipal management district, water control and improvement district, fresh water supply district, or municipal utility district.
Relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.
Relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.
Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.
Relating to permits issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas for commercial surface disposal facilities.
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 boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Creedmoor Municipal Utility District.
Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Creedmoor Municipal Utility District.
Relating to the authority of this state to implement a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.
Relating to the authority of this state to implement a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.
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 the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.
Relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.
Relating to the validation of the creation of and certain acts of the Austin County Municipal Utility District No. 1.
Relating to the validation of the creation of and certain acts of the Austin County Municipal Utility District No. 1.
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 creation of the Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 40; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 40; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Water Control and Improvement District No. 7; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Water Control and Improvement District No. 7; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 258; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 258; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 263; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 263; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 13; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 13; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws affect the water industry in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 123 laws affecting the water industry. These bills cover various regulatory, operational, and compliance aspects relevant to water companies operating in Texas.
- What are the key water bills from the Texas 89th Legislature?
- Key water legislation includes: HB1 (Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; aut...); HB29 (Relating to water losses reported by certain municipally own...); HB49 (Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil an...). These represent some of the most significant regulatory changes for the industry in 2025.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most water legislation?
- The leading authors of water legislation in the Texas 89th Legislature include Charles Perry (9 bills), Judith Zaffirini (8 bills), Stan Gerdes (6 bills). These lawmakers have been instrumental in shaping water policy for the state.
- What types of regulations affect Texas water companies?
- Legislation affecting water rights, utilities, conservation, infrastructure, and environmental quality. Texas water companies should review these enacted laws for compliance requirements, effective dates, and operational impacts.
- When do Texas water laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation from the 89th Legislature takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified in the bill. Some bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation. Water companies should review individual bills for specific effective dates.
Need Strategic Guidance on Water Legislation?
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