S.B. No. 1663 amends Section 26.408(b) of the Water Code to enhance notification procedures regarding groundwater contamination. The bill stipulates that the commission must notify affected parties as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 days after receiving notice or gaining independent knowledge of contamination. The notification methods have been expanded to include first-class mail, e-mail, and notices placed on the doors of residences, in addition to the existing methods. The bill specifies that notifications must be sent to each owner of a private drinking water well that may be affected, the applicable groundwater conservation district, and residents within one mile of the contamination site.

The changes in the bill replace the previous requirement of notifying only the groundwater conservation district with a broader notification scope that includes additional stakeholders. This aims to ensure that all potentially impacted individuals are informed promptly about groundwater contamination risks. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 26.408 (Water Code 26)
Senate Committee Report: Water Code 26.408 (Water Code 26)
Engrossed: Water Code 26.408 (Water Code 26)
House Committee Report: Water Code 26.408 (Water Code 26)
Enrolled: Water Code 26.408 (Water Code 26)