HB 1529
groundwater fee cap goes from 20 cents to 50
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 production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Southwestern Travis County, per thousand gallons. Two and a half times the old max!
The bill raises the cap on the water production fee that the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District may charge, from 20 cents to 50 cents per thousand gallons. It touches owners and operators of non-exempt wells in that district who pay fees based on the water they actually pump. Starting September 1, 2025, the district can charge those well owners up to two and a half times the old maximum.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 129 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 129 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 5, 2024 and referred to the House Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB1529 · 2024-12-05
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee.
WHAT IT DOES
Southwestern Travis County, per thousand gallons. Two and a half times the old max!
The bill raises the cap on the water production fee that the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District may charge, from 20 cents to 50 cents per thousand gallons. It touches owners and operators of non-exempt wells in that district who pay fees based on the water they actually pump. Starting September 1, 2025, the district can charge those well owners up to two and a half times the old maximum.
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 TEXT
…“production fee under this section in an amount greater than 50 [ 20 ]”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill lets one local groundwater district charge well owners more for each thousand gallons of water they pump.
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 Dec 5, 2024
03/12/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Mar 12 2025 11:15AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 1720 by Eckhardt (identical)
Subjects
SOUTHWESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (DV0AC)
Environment--Water
Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--Local
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
Text
The text as introduced · 129 words
89R4861 JBD-D By: Goodwin H.B. No. 1529 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 8871.154, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 8871.154. PRODUCTION FEE. The district may impose reasonable production fees on each well that is not exempt from permitting under Section 8871.103 based on the amount of water actually withdrawn from the well. The district may not impose a production fee under this section in an amount greater than 50 [ 20 ] cents per thousand gallons. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.