Relating to the dedication of certain water rights to the Texas Water Trust.

SB 1623 amends Texas Water Code Section 15.7031(c) to establish new approval requirements for dedicating water rights to the Texas Water Trust. It requires surface water rights dedications to be reviewed and approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), with input from the Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Department of Agriculture. For groundwater rights, the bill mandates approval by the Texas Water Development Board and review by local water districts or authorities regulating well spacing or production in the aquifer. This bill directly affects landowners, water rights holders, and water management entities seeking to transfer water rights to the Trust for conservation purposes. The changes take effect September 1, 2025.