The bill amends the Local Government Code and the Water Code to modify the requirements for county regulation of subdivisions and the approval of subdivision plans or plats. Specifically, it allows counties to exempt owners of tracts of land located outside municipal limits from needing a plat if they do 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 clarifies the conditions under which a plat is not required, emphasizing the absence of specific developments intended for use by lot purchasers or owners.

Additionally, the bill modifies the Water Code to allow the commissioners court of a county within a priority groundwater management area to adopt water availability requirements, even in areas where platting is mandated, if necessary to ensure sustainable water use. This change reflects a shift from the previous language, which did not provide such flexibility. 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)