The bill, S.B. No. 2159, amends Section 27.051(i) of the Water Code to clarify the regulations surrounding aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects that intersect with the Edwards Aquifer. It specifies that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) may authorize injection wells that transect the Edwards Aquifer under certain conditions. The new legal language allows for the injection of groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer, stormwater, floodwater, or groundwater through improved sinkholes or caves, and explicitly includes ASR projects that involve an ASR injection well in Medina County for injecting water into a geologic formation beneath the Edwards Aquifer.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the TCEQ adopt rules to implement these changes by March 1, 2026. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025. This legislation aims to enhance the management and utilization of water resources in relation to the Edwards Aquifer while ensuring environmental protections are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 27.051 (Water Code 27)