Texas House Bill HB 3115

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 2/20/25
• Out of House Committee: 5/12/25
• Voted on by House: 5/21/25

Caption

Relating to the authority of the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District to regulate certain wells.

Summary

HB 3115 narrows the regulatory authority of the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District over certain wells. The bill amends the district’s enabling law to prohibit it from requiring meters or measuring devices on wells used solely for domestic or livestock purposes that are already exempt from permitting under state water law. It also preserves existing limits on the district’s ability to sell, transport, or export groundwater outside the district and on its ability to contract to supply water within a municipality’s or retail public utility’s service area without consent. In practical terms, the bill protects exempt domestic and livestock well owners from additional local monitoring requirements and reinforces restrictions on the district’s role in groundwater marketing and interlocal water supply arrangements. The measure applies specifically to the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District and amends a provision in the Special District Local Laws Code, with an effective date of September 1, 2025 unless it receives the constitutionally required two-thirds vote for immediate effect.

Impact

The bill would amend Section 8838.106(b) of the Special District Local Laws Code, limiting what the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District may require or do with respect to certain wells and groundwater transactions. It would prevent the district from imposing metering requirements on exempt domestic or livestock wells, while leaving in place prohibitions on exporting groundwater outside the district and on supplying water within municipal or retail utility service areas without consent. The change affects the district’s regulatory authority, exempt well owners, and any municipal or utility service areas within the district.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill was broadly supported, passing the House on third reading by a 140-1 vote. No committee transcript is available, but the strong floor vote indicates little visible opposition overall. The bill then moved to the Senate and was received from the House, suggesting it advanced without major controversy at that stage.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be the balance between local groundwater regulation and the rights of exempt well owners. Supporters likely view the bill as preventing unnecessary regulation of domestic and livestock wells and preserving property owners’ existing exemptions, while opponents may be concerned that it further constrains the district’s ability to monitor groundwater use or manage local water resources. The bill also reinforces limits on groundwater export and water-supply contracting, but those provisions appear to have generated little recorded opposition in the available vote history.