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 bill clarifies that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) may authorize injection wells that transect the Edwards Aquifer, specifically for ASR projects that include an ASR injection well defined by Section 27.151. This provision expands the types of water that can be injected into the aquifer, including groundwater withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer, storm water, flood water, and groundwater through improved sinkholes or caves in karst areas.

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. The amendments aim to enhance water management strategies in the region while ensuring environmental protections are maintained.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 27.051 (Water Code 27)
House Committee Report: Water Code 27.051 (Water Code 27)