HB 4637

Troxclair Bill Sets A Three-Acre Average Lot For Groundwater Subdivisions

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19

Both charges, and why

Bracket bill

THE TEXT

“wholly located in a county with a population of more than 44,000 and less than 44,500”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The subchapter applies only to a county with a population of more than 44,000 and less than 44,500, a window that targets a single unnamed county. The caption says only 'certain counties' and never names it.

Bracket bill

The hole

THE TEXT

“This subchapter does not apply to a tract of land located in a water control and improvement district that was in existence on September 1, 2025.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

Section 232.202 covers groundwater sourced from a water control and improvement district, yet any tract inside a district that existed on September 1, 2025 is exempt from the whole subchapter. Tracts outside existing districts remain covered, so the exemption removes part of the coverage rather than the whole main case.

The hole

Initial review · graded Oct 21, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate subdivision platting in regard to the use of groundwater.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The caption’s “certain counties” is one county of 44,000 to 44,500 people. Existing water districts are exempt.

The bill sets a three-acre average minimum lot size for new subdivisions of tracts over 50 acres that will be supplied by groundwater, and it requires a water availability report with the plat application. It applies only to tracts in a county with a population of more than 44,000 and less than 44,500, and it exempts tracts inside water control and improvement districts that existed on September 1, 2025. Owners in that county cannot plat small groundwater-served lots unless the commissioners court grants a variance for a rainwater collection system, and the subchapter expires August 31, 2035.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House Land & Resource Management committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4637 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19

ITEM

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate subdivision platting in regard to the use of groundwater.

WHAT IT DOES

The caption’s “certain counties” is one county of 44,000 to 44,500 people. Existing water districts are exempt.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 65%

THE TEXT

“wholly located in a county with a population of more than 44,000 and less than 44,500”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

“This subchapter does not apply to a tract of land located in a water control and improvement district that was in existence on September 1, 2025.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 12, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Land & Resource Management

FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

…“if the source of the water supply intended for the subdivision is groundwater”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill limits how densely new subdivisions may be platted when their water supply is groundwater in one bracketed county.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ellen Troxclair

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$100K Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC$10K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$5K

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 21, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$100,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$100,000.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $100,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 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: 101031227, 101040659.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC$10,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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: 101072162.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$5,083.34

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$5,083.34

Cash: $5,000.00
Paid by others: $83.34
Total: $5,083.34

advertising $83.34

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$100,000.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $100,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 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: 101031227, 101040659.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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: 101072162.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$5,083.34

Cash: $5,000.00
Paid by others: $83.34
Total: $5,083.34

advertising $83.34

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Adversarial review by claude-fable-5-1 at high effort: Smells.

Analysis of text version I by claude-fable-5-1, Oct 21, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to Land & Resource Management: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

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 · Land & Resource Management · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

County Government--Land Use & Zoning

Special Districts & Authorities--Municipal Utility Districts

Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility

PLATTING

Text

The text as introduced · 350 words

89R15283 MP-D

By: Troxclair
H.B. No. 4637

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate

subdivision platting in regard to the use of groundwater.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 232, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Subchapter G to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER G. LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES

Sec. 232.201. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This

subchapter applies only to a tract of land that is:

(1) greater than 50 acres;

(2) proposed to be subdivided and developed for

residential or commercial purposes; and

(3) wholly located in a county with a population of

more than 44,000 and less than 44,500.

(b) This subchapter does not apply to a tract of land

located in a water control and improvement district that was in

existence on September 1, 2025.

Sec. 232.202. MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENT.

Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by Section

232.204, the owner of a tract of land may not subdivide the land

into lots that have an average lot size of less than three acres if

the source of the water supply intended for the subdivision is

groundwater, including groundwater sourced from a water control and

improvement district or a municipal utility district.

Sec. 232.203. WATER AVAILABILITY REPORT. A person that

submits a plat application for approval for a tract of land must

include a water availability report with the application as

provided by Section 232.0032.

Sec. 232.204. VARIANCE FROM MINIMUM LOT SIZE REQUIREMENT.

On the request of an owner of a tract of land, the commissioners

court of a county may grant a variance from compliance with Section

232.202 if the owner demonstrates that the development of the tract

of land will include a rainwater collection system.

Sec. 232.205. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires August

31, 2035.

SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 232, Local Government

Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a plat application

submitted on or after the effective date of this Act.

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