Conservation Chronicles

2025 Legislative Wins for Water: What They Mean for Our District

Texas continues to face rising water demands, recurring droughts, and growing development pressures. To help address these challenges, state lawmakers passed several water bills this session that give local communities and Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) more tools to plan, protect, and collaborate. For the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District (LPGCD), this legislative session marks a meaningful shift toward stronger coordination, smarter funding, and better protection of our local wells. These bills make one thing clear: managing groundwater in isolation no longer works and is no longer an option. Aquifers cross county lines, and the challenges facing water supplies require partnerships, transparency, and science-based solutions.

Expanding Partnerships and Planning Capacity

Senate Bill 480 clarifies that local governments, including GCDs, can enter formal agreements with one another, or with state and federal agencies, to collaborate on water research and planning. While LPGCD has already engaged in such efforts, this bill provides clearer legal authority to strengthen partnerships for drought planning, aquifer modeling, and data-sharing. It creates more room for regional approaches to groundwater management.

Senate Bill 7 complements this by expanding access to state funding for water infrastructure. While the bill does not directly regulate districts like LPGCD, it prioritizes support for projects such as water reuse, desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, and rural water improvements. These efforts may be led by other entities, but they create opportunities for LPGCD to serve as a partner, advisor, or data resource for projects that benefit Bastrop and Lee Counties.

Boosting Rural Investment and Access to Funds

House Bill 2765 expands eligibility for rural economic development funding by raising the population cap to 200,000. Both Bastrop and Lee Counties now qualify for state grants and loans to improve water systems, wastewater facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Although LPGCD does not have authority to build municipal water infrastructure, we may have opportunities to support these projects by offering planning insight, conservation data, or education to help align them with long-term water goals.

Stronger Protections for Wells and Local Water Users

Several new bills directly strengthen LPGCD’s ability to protect landowners and local water supplies.

House Bill 1690 enhances transparency by expanding the notification requirements for groundwater export permit applications. Applicants must now send certified mail and publish public notices in all affected counties and aquifer regions. This change helps keep neighboring communities and GCDs informed of proposals that could impact shared water resources. For example, if a groundwater exporter plans to pump near our county line, our district will now be notified and have the opportunity to stay engaged in the process.

House Bill 1689 provides another tool for addressing the real-world impacts of groundwater pumping near district boundaries. Under this measure, GCDs that collect export fees can now use that revenue to help maintain or repair wells impacted by groundwater production, even if those wells are located in a neighboring GCD. With an interlocal agreement in place, a district such as Post Oak Savannah GCD could provide funding to LPGCD for mitigation if its permitted pumping affects wells inside our boundaries. This creates a practical pathway to support landowners, reduce conflict, and encourage cooperation between GCDs that share aquifers.

House Bill 1633 adds a new requirement for permit review. Groundwater Conservation Districts must now consider whether a proposed well would unreasonably affect exempt wells, such as those used for household or livestock purposes. These wells are often more vulnerable to nearby large-scale pumping. By requiring GCDs to formally evaluate impacts on exempt wells, this measure supports fair permitting decisions and reinforces protections for existing water wells.

A Constitutional Commitment to Water

House Joint Resolution 7 proposes a constitutional amendment that would dedicate a portion of state sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund. If approved by voters in November 2025, this measure would invest up to $1 billion per year in statewide water projects, with at least 25 percent dedicated to new water supply initiatives. These could include investments in desalination facilities that treat seawater or brackish groundwater, as well as the construction or expansion of wastewater treatment plants. The measure also includes strong protections for fresh groundwater by prohibiting the use of these funds for infrastructure that would export fresh or non-brackish groundwater from water wells.

This constitutional amendment would provide long-term financial support for water planning, conservation, infrastructure, and rural water systems. While it does not directly affect LPGCD’s daily operations, as we are not authorized to build municipal infrastructure, it complements the goals of Senate Bill 7 by creating new funding opportunities for Bastrop and Lee Counties. Most importantly, it includes protections of fresh groundwater resources that our district was established to manage, protect, and conserve.

Looking Ahead

This legislative session, we saw big wins for groundwater protection in our region. Together, these legislative changes reflect a growing recognition that effective groundwater management must be locally informed, regionally coordinated, and sustainably funded. For LPGCD and the residents of Bastrop and Lee Counties, these new measures provide a stronger foundation for protecting groundwater resources while supporting responsible development and long-term water security. With new tools for collaboration, transparency, and well protection, LPGCD is better prepared to serve our people who rely on the aquifers beneath our feet.

At the same time, legislation and policy are only part of the solution. It remains imperative for every household, landowner, and water user to conserve water to the best of their ability. Protecting groundwater requires not only good laws, but also everyday action. Together, by using water wisely and supporting conservation efforts, we can help conserve our shared groundwater for generations to come.