HB 1245
drought plans must ban watering nonfunctional turf
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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
Caption
relating to a prohibition on the use of water on nonresidential property to irrigate nonfunctional turf during a drought.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Nonresidential property only. The commission decides which grass counts as “nonfunctional.”
The bill requires the drought plans that Texas water suppliers and irrigation districts must keep to ban using water on nonresidential property to irrigate nonfunctional turf during water shortages and drought, and to include ways to enforce that ban. It touches public water suppliers, irrigation districts, the state environmental commission, and owners of nonresidential property with decorative grass. The commission must define nonfunctional turf and write rules by January 1, 2026, and suppliers must update their plans by May 1, 2026.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB1245 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to a prohibition on the use of water on nonresidential property to irrigate nonfunctional turf during a drought.
WHAT IT DOES
Nonresidential property only. The commission decides which grass counts as “nonfunctional.”
The bill requires the drought plans that Texas water suppliers and irrigation districts must keep to ban using water on nonresidential property to irrigate nonfunctional turf during water shortages and drought, and to include ways to enforce that ban. It touches public water suppliers, irrigation districts, the state environmental commission, and owners of nonresidential property with decorative grass. The commission must define nonfunctional turf and write rules by January 1, 2026, and suppliers must update their plans by May 1, 2026.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Natural Resources
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
The bill decides that during drought, water may not go to irrigating nonfunctional turf on nonresidential property.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
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.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/10/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Mar 10 2025 2:24PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
City Government--Utilities
Special Districts & Authorities--Municipal Utility Districts
Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility
Utilities--Water & Sewer
Water--General
Water--Rights
DROUGHT
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Text
The text as introduced · 244 words
89R2988 JAM-F By: Goodwin H.B. No. 1245 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a prohibition on the use of water on nonresidential property to irrigate nonfunctional turf during a drought. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 11.1272(c), Water Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) A [ By May 1, 2005, a ] drought contingency plan required by commission rule adopted under this section must : (1) include specific, quantified targets for water use reductions that are: (A) to be achieved during periods of water shortages and drought ; and (B) established by the [ . The ] entity preparing the plan ; (2) prohibit the use of water on nonresidential property to irrigate nonfunctional turf, as defined by commission rule, during periods of water shortages and drought; and (3) include methods for enforcing compliance with the prohibition described by Subdivision (2) [ shall establish the targets ]. SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall adopt rules necessary to implement Section 11.1272(c), Water Code, as amended by this Act. (b) Not later than May 1, 2026, a wholesale or retail public water supplier or an irrigation district required to develop a drought contingency plan under Section 11.1272, Water Code, shall update that plan to implement Section 11.1272(c), Water Code, as amended by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.