Monitoring the Session

HB 4530

Texas Water Trust groundwater now needs state approval

Vetoed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ramon Romero Jr.DHouse 90

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the dedication and management of water rights placed in the Texas Water Trust.

Caption from analyzed text · version E.

Summary

The Water Development Board signs off, and the local district gets notice.

The bill makes the Water Development Board review and approve any groundwater rights placed in the Texas Water Trust, and it requires the board to notify the local groundwater district that regulates the affected aquifer. It also limits the trust language for Parks and Wildlife to surface water rights, and it lets that department manage those rights under a voluntary agreement with the rights holder and consistent with the dedication's terms and environmental benefits. Landowners and others who give groundwater rights to the trust now face a formal state approval step, and local groundwater districts get notice starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4530 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Ramon Romero Jr.DHouse 90 Rep. Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Rep. Caroline FairlyRHouse 87

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the dedication and management of water rights placed in the Texas Water Trust.

WHAT IT DOES

The Water Development Board signs off, and the local district gets notice.

The bill makes the Water Development Board review and approve any groundwater rights placed in the Texas Water Trust, and it requires the board to notify the local groundwater district that regulates the affected aquifer. It also limits the trust language for Parks and Wildlife to surface water rights, and it lets that department manage those rights under a voluntary agreement with the rights holder and consistent with the dedication's terms and environmental benefits. Landowners and others who give groundwater rights to the trust now face a formal state approval step, and local groundwater districts get notice starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 27, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Natural Resources
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#1542
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#1615
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
  27. Posting rule suspended
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken in committee
  31. Vote taken in committee
  32. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  33. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  34. Committee report printed and distributed
  35. Placed on intent calendar
  36. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  37. Read 2nd time
  38. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Johnson
  39. Amended
  40. Vote recorded in Journal
  41. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  42. Vote recorded in Journal
  43. Three day rule suspended
  44. Record vote
  45. Read 3rd time
  46. Passed
  47. Record vote
  48. Senate passage as amended reported
  49. Senate Amendments distributed
  50. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  51. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  52. Record vote RV#4002
  53. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  54. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  55. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  56. Reported enrolled
  57. Signed in the House
  58. Signed in the Senate
  59. Sent to the Governor
  60. Vetoed by the Governor
FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

“The dedication of any groundwater rights placed in trust must be reviewed and approved by the board.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The bill adds a state approval step for groundwater rights dedicated to the environmental water trust, plus notice to the local groundwater district.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 109 yea · 27 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 7, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ramon Romero Jr.

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$21KFort Worth Firefighters Committee For Responsible Government$20KTexas Sands PAC$20K

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 · Jul 3, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$21,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$21,000.00

Cash
$21,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$21,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Jun 30, 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: 100986301, 101029857, 101058061.

Fort Worth Firefighters Committee For Responsible Government$20,000.00

Fort Worth Firefighters Committee For Responsible Government

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 8, 2024 to Oct 17, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 8, 2024 to Oct 14, 2025. 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: 100986301, 101029857.

Texas Sands PAC$20,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 3, 2024 to Jun 30, 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: 100986301, 101029857, 101058061.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$21,000.00

Cash
$21,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$21,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 29, 2024 to Jun 30, 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: 100986301, 101029857, 101058061.

×

Fort Worth Firefighters Committee For Responsible Government

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 8, 2024 to Oct 17, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 8, 2024 to Oct 14, 2025. 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: 100986301, 101029857.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 3, 2024 to Jun 30, 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: 100986301, 101029857, 101058061.

Votes6

House May 28, 2025

Yea
90
Nay
42
Present, not voting
2
Absent
6
Excused
10
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4002

Representative Romero moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 4530. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 4530 prevailed by (Record 4002): 90 Yeas, 42 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 90 (published)
  • Nay: 42 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Johnson moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 4530 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Johnson moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 4530 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 4530 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea
109
Nay
27
Present, not voting
1
Absent
11
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1615

HB 4530 was passed by (Record 1615): 109 Yeas, 27 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 109 (published)
  • Nay: 27 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 11 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 6, 2025

Yea
119
Nay
25
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1542

HB 4530 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1542): 119 Yeas, 25 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 119 (published)
  • Nay: 25 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses15
For
12
Against
0
On
3
Names

For

  • Chispa Texas1 registration
  • Environmental Defense Fund1 registration
  • Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club1 registration
  • National Wildlife Federation2 registrations
  • Self1 registration
  • Sierra Club1 registration
  • Texas 20362 registrations
  • Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts2 registrations
  • The Nature Conservancy in Texas1 registration

On

  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality1 registration
  • Texas Water Development Board2 registrations
Sources

15 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 27, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version E by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

06/22/2025 E Vetoed by the Governor

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16

House committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Environment--Water

Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.

Water--Conservation (I097L)

Water--Development

Water--General

Water--Rights

WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 394 words

89R8138 KRM-F

By: Romero
H.B. No. 4530

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the dedication and management of water rights placed in

the Texas Water Trust.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 12.028(b) and (c), Parks and Wildlife

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) Consistent with Section 11.0235(b), Water Code, and the

department's duties and responsibilities, the department shall

encourage and facilitate the dedication of surface water rights in

the Texas Water Trust through lease, donation, purchase, or other

means of voluntary transfer for environmental needs, including for

the purpose of maintaining or improving:

(1) instream flows;

(2) water quality;

(3) fish and wildlife habitat; and

(4) bay and estuary inflows.

(c) The department may manage surface water rights in the

Texas Water Trust in a manner that is consistent with:

(1) the manner in which a holder of the rights may

manage the rights;

(2) the dedication of the rights, including the

dedication's terms and conditions;

(3) Sections 11.0237, 11.027, and 11.122, Water Code;

and

(4) maximizing environmental benefits.

SECTION 2. Section 15.7031, Water Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection (c-1) to

read as follows:

(c) The dedication of any surface water rights placed in

trust must be reviewed and approved by the commission, in

consultation with the board and the Parks and Wildlife Department.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture may provide input to the

commission, as appropriate, during the review and approval process

for the dedication of surface water rights.

(c-1) The dedication of any groundwater rights placed in

trust must be reviewed and approved by the board. The board must

provide notice of the dedication to any district or authority that:

(1) was created under Section 52, Article III, or

Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and

(2) has the authority to regulate the spacing of or

production from water wells located in the aquifer, subdivision of

the aquifer, or geologic stratum in which the groundwater that is

the subject of the groundwater rights is located.

(e) The Parks and Wildlife Department may manage surface

water rights in the trust:

(1) under a voluntary agreement with a rights holder;

and

(2) in the manner described by Section 12.028(c),

Parks and Wildlife Code.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.