Monitoring the SessionHB 1050
Died in committee
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the award of attorney's fees in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Today only the district can recover. Now whoever wins.
The bill changes who can win attorney's fees in lawsuits involving a groundwater conservation district. Today, only the district can recover its legal fees when it wins; under this bill, whichever side wins (a landowner, a well owner or the district) can recover fees, expert costs and other court costs, except in suits the district voluntarily joins. It applies only to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025, so people who sue a district and win can get their legal bills paid, and the district takes on that risk when it loses.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2119 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 2119 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB1050 · 2024-11-12
relating to the award of attorney's fees in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.
Today only the district can recover. Now whoever wins.
The bill changes who can win attorney's fees in lawsuits involving a groundwater conservation district. Today, only the district can recover its legal fees when it wins; under this bill, whichever side wins (a landowner, a well owner or the district) can recover fees, expert costs and other court costs, except in suits the district voluntarily joins. It applies only to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025, so people who sue a district and win can get their legal bills paid, and the district takes on that risk when it loses.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$381,050.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101069938, 101072345.
$211,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101069938, 101072345.
$160,036.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101061158, 101069938.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$381,050.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101069938, 101072345.
$211,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101069938, 101072345.
$160,036.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Sep 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101061158, 101069938.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Dorazio, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 9, 2023: Referred to Natural Resources
Relating to the award of attorney's fees in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/07/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Mar 7 2025 2:33PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
ATTORNEY'S FEES
The text as introduced · 299 words
89R1072 LRM-D By: Dorazio H.B. No. 1050 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the award of attorney's fees in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 36.066(g) and (h), Water Code, are amended to read as follows: (g) Except for [ If the district prevails in any suit other than ] a suit in which a district [ it ] voluntarily intervenes, the prevailing party in a suit governed by this section [ district ] may seek and the court shall grant, in the interests of justice and as provided by Subsection (h), in the same action, recovery for attorney's fees, costs for expert witnesses, and other costs incurred by the prevailing party [ district ] before the court. The amount of the attorney's fees shall be fixed by the court. (h) The court shall award to a prevailing party that [ If the district ] prevails on some, but not all, of the issues in the suit [ , the court shall award ] attorney's fees and costs only for those issues on which the party [ district ] prevails. The prevailing party [ district ] has the burden of segregating the attorney's fees and costs in order for the court to make an award. SECTION 2. Section 36.066, Water Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a suit involving a groundwater conservation district that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit filed before the effective date of this Act is subject to the law in effect on the date the suit is filed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.