The bill, H.B. No. 4931, amends Section 27.051(i) of the Water Code to allow for specific aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects that intersect the Edwards Aquifer in Medina County. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is prohibited from authorizing injection wells that transect or terminate in the Edwards Aquifer, except under certain conditions. The new legal language permits the commission to authorize injection wells for groundwater withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer, stormwater, floodwater, and now explicitly includes ASR projects that involve an ASR injection well defined by Section 27.151, which can inject 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 facilitate the management and recovery of water resources in the region while ensuring environmental protections are maintained.

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