HB 2817
Isaac Aquifer Bill Exempts Utilities That Straddled The Line In 1996
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Carve-out
THE TEXT
…“located within the boundaries of the authority on June 28, 1996”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The new exception to the in-boundary use rule goes only to retail utilities whose service areas straddled the authority line on a fixed 1996 date. That frozen-date test picks out a closed class of beneficiaries, while the caption reads as general water-use policy.
Carve-outInitial 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relating to the use of water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Those utilities can move aquifer water outside the boundaries. Cutoff date: June 28, 1996.
The bill changes the Edwards Aquifer Authority law so that water pumped from the aquifer can be used outside the authority's boundaries in some cases. It reaches retail water utilities whose state-certified service area was at least partly inside the authority's boundaries on June 28, 1996, using those service areas as they stood on September 1, 2025. On the ground, those utilities could move aquifer water into the parts of their service areas that lie outside the authority's boundaries, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 126 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 126 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).
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB2817 · 2025-02-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the use of water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer.
WHAT IT DOES
Those utilities can move aquifer water outside the boundaries. Cutoff date: June 28, 1996.
The bill changes the Edwards Aquifer Authority law so that water pumped from the aquifer can be used outside the authority's boundaries in some cases. It reaches retail water utilities whose state-certified service area was at least partly inside the authority's boundaries on June 28, 1996, using those service areas as they stood on September 1, 2025. On the ground, those utilities could move aquifer water into the parts of their service areas that lie outside the authority's boundaries, starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
…“located within the boundaries of the authority on June 28, 1996”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The new exception to the in-boundary use rule goes only to retail utilities whose service areas straddled the authority line on a fixed 1996 date. That frozen-date test picks out a closed class of beneficiaries, while the caption reads as general water-use policy.
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 lets certain retail utilities carry Edwards Aquifer water to customers outside the authority's boundaries, which changes who can get that water.
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 29, 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.
American Fireworks$26,000.00
American Fireworks
$26,000.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $26,000.00
- Total
- $26,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 4, 2025 to Jul 3, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 4, 2025 to Jul 3, 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: 101062888, 101069223.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,083.33
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,083.33
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $83.33
- Total
- $20,083.33
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101011492, 101062888, 101070788.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
American Fireworks
$26,000.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $26,000.00
- Total
- $26,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 4, 2025 to Jul 3, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 4, 2025 to Jul 3, 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: 101062888, 101069223.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,083.33
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $83.33
- Total
- $20,083.33
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101011492, 101062888, 101070788.
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 Feb 13, 2025
03/19/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Mar 19 2025 12:35PM
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
Companion
SB 863 by Perry (identical)
Subjects
Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility
EDWARDS AQUIFER
Text
The text as introduced · 126 words
89R5697 JBD-F By: Isaac H.B. No. 2817 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of water withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1.34(b), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as follows: (b) Water withdrawn from the aquifer must be used within : (1) the boundaries of the authority ; or (2) the certificated area of a retail public utility according to a certificate of convenience and necessity, as the certificate existed on September 1, 2025, any part of which was located within the boundaries of the authority on June 28, 1996 . SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.