H.B. No. 4135 amends Section 573.001 of the Local Government Code to refine the criteria for counties and districts subject to stormwater management regulations. The bill specifies that the chapter applies to counties with populations of 2.8 million or more, certain districts with boundaries coterminous with those counties, and counties with populations over 1.3 million that rely on underground aquifers for drinking water. Notably, it removes the previous requirement for counties to have a population of 800,000 or more and introduces new criteria for counties that either contain a portion of the Edwards Aquifer or are located within the boundaries of the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area.

The bill aims to enhance stormwater management regulations by focusing on specific geographic and hydrological characteristics of counties, thereby addressing the unique needs of areas with significant groundwater resources. The act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 573.001 (Local Government Code 573)