H.B. No. 145 amends the Local Government Code and the Water Code to establish new requirements for plat applications related to groundwater supply for land subdivisions. Specifically, it mandates that applications must include a statement prepared by a licensed engineer or geoscientist certifying the availability of adequate groundwater and compliance with rules set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Additionally, the bill introduces a provision that allows municipal authorities and commissioners courts to disapprove plat applications that do not meet these requirements. The TCEQ is tasked with establishing the appropriate forms and content for certifications and defining what constitutes credible evidence of groundwater availability.

The bill also allows counties within priority groundwater management areas to adopt water availability requirements to ensure that water use does not exceed sustainable yields. The changes will apply only to plat applications filed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for January 1, 2026. The TCEQ is required to adopt the necessary rules by September 1, 2026, to implement these changes effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 212.0101, Local Government Code 232.0032, Water Code 35.019 (Water Code 35, Local Government Code 232, Local Government Code 212)