The bill, S.B. No. 58, amends Section 36.1132 of the Water Code to establish new regulations for groundwater conservation districts regarding the issuance of permits for groundwater production and transfer. Specifically, it introduces a new subsection (d) that prohibits a district from issuing a permit if the total amount of groundwater authorized for production and transfer by the applicant exceeds five percent of the total modeled available groundwater allocated to the district, as determined by the executive administrator. This measure aims to ensure sustainable groundwater management by limiting the amount of water that can be extracted and transferred out of the district.

The new regulation will apply only to permits issued on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session. This bill reflects a proactive approach to groundwater conservation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance between water resource utilization and environmental sustainability.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 36.1132 (Water Code 36)