H.B. No. 5385 amends the Water Code to address aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects that intersect the Edwards Aquifer, specifically in Williamson County east of Interstate Highway 35. The bill clarifies that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) may authorize injection wells that transect the Edwards Aquifer under certain conditions. New provisions include the authorization of ASR projects that involve an ASR injection well, as defined in Section 27.151, for the purpose of 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. The amendments aim to facilitate the management and utilization of water resources while ensuring environmental protections for the Edwards Aquifer.

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