The bill amends the Local Government Code and the Water Code to clarify the conditions under which counties can regulate subdivisions and approve subdivision plans or plats. Specifically, it states that a county cannot require a plat for a tract of land outside municipal limits if the owner does not lay out certain features, such as streets or parks, and if the land is primarily for agricultural use or if all lots are over 10 acres. The new legal language specifies that the owner must not lay out a part of the tract described by Section 232.001(a)(3) or any streets, alleys, squares, parks, or other parts intended for the use of purchasers or owners of adjacent lots.

Additionally, the bill allows the commissioners court of a county in a priority groundwater management area to adopt water availability requirements in areas where platting is required, overriding previous language that restricted this authority. This change is intended to ensure that water use does not exceed the sustainable yield of the county's water supply. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 232.0015, Water Code 35.019 (Local Government Code 232, Water Code 35)