HB 27 Texas House · 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)

Relating to a groundwater study of certain aquifers underlying the territory of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District by the Texas Water Development Board before the issuance of permits or permit amendments by the district.

HB 27 requires the Texas Water Development Board to study groundwater sustainability in the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. The study must determine the maximum annual groundwater production without harming the aquifer's modeled available water and assess impacts on local water flows. The bill imposes a temporary moratorium on new permits or permit amendments for groundwater transfer out of the district until the study report is submitted by January 12, 2027. This moratorium applies only to the Neches and Trinity Valleys District and expires on September 1, 2027. The bill directly affects groundwater permit applicants and the district's permitting authority.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Sep 2025
House Passage
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Sep 2025
Governor
Introduced Aug 20, 2025 Last action Sep 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · Sep 2, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was amended to clarify its purpose, update the moratorium timeline, and expand the study requirements for groundwater analysis. The changes ensure the Texas Water Development Board conducts a more comprehensive study comparing production limits with desired future conditions before permits can be issued.
Scope change
The bill's scope was clarified to focus on a groundwater study of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District, with specific requirements for analyzing production limits and hydrological effects.
TIMELINE

The moratorium on issuing new permits changed from a fixed September 1, 2027 expiration to a 270-day period after the report deadline, with the section expiring November 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements added to compare production limits with modeled available groundwater and desired future conditions before September 1, 2025.

Expanded hydrological effects assessment to include capture and additional surface water interactions.

DEFINITION

Clarified that the bill applies to permits issued on or after the effective date, with Section 2 explicitly exempting permits issued before the effective date.

Floor votes · Senate Sep 2, 2025 · House Aug 25, 2025

How they voted

228
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 33
Sep 2, 2025
D Democratic12
7 Yea 3 Nay 2
58% Yea
R Republican21
15 Yea 5 Nay 1
71% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
53
Key actions
15
Committee
11
Amendments
7
Sep 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
House requests conference committee-reported
upper
Sep 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
House requests conference committee
lower
Sep 3, 2025
Introduced
House refuses to concur in Senate amendments
lower
Sep 2, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
lower
Sep 2, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments distributed
lower
Sep 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage as amended reported
lower
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
upper
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Sep 2, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Sep 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Aug 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Aug 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Aug 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Aug 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Aug 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Aug 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors