H.B. No. 1523 introduces a temporary prohibition on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's authorization of Class V injection wells for specific aquifer storage and recovery projects. The new section, 27.1535, specifies that this prohibition applies only to Class V injection wells located within groundwater conservation districts that have determined these wells pose environmental risks to local aquifers. Furthermore, the bill restricts the use of such wells for aquifer storage and recovery projects operated by municipally owned utilities that serve municipalities with populations of 750,000 or more, provided these municipalities are in counties adjacent to those with the aforementioned groundwater conservation districts.

The prohibition is set to expire on December 31, 2027. The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

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