HB 4772
Olcott Groundwater Bill Redraws Well Permit Exemptions At 100 Acres
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 exemptions from the requirement to obtain a permit from a groundwater conservation district for certain groundwater wells.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Household wells need over 100 acres, up from 10. Smaller tracts: 10,000 gallons a day, any use.
The bill rewrites which water wells are exempt from needing a permit from a local groundwater conservation district. Wells used only for household or livestock water would get the current 25,000-gallon-a-day exemption only on tracts larger than 100 acres instead of larger than 10 acres. A new exemption covers any well on a tract of 100 acres or less that cannot pump more than 10,000 gallons a day, with no limit on how the water is used, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Natural Resources committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4772 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to exemptions from the requirement to obtain a permit from a groundwater conservation district for certain groundwater wells.
WHAT IT DOES
Household wells need over 100 acres, up from 10. Smaller tracts: 10,000 gallons a day, any use.
The bill rewrites which water wells are exempt from needing a permit from a local groundwater conservation district. Wells used only for household or livestock water would get the current 25,000-gallon-a-day exemption only on tracts larger than 100 acres instead of larger than 10 acres. A new exemption covers any well on a tract of 100 acres or less that cannot pump more than 10,000 gallons a day, with no limit on how the water is used, starting September 1, 2025.
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
“drilling or operating a well that is located or to be located on a tract of land of 100 acres or less in size and drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is incapable of producing more than 10,000 gallons of groundwater a day”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill changes who can pump groundwater without a district permit, and the new small-tract exemption has no domestic or livestock use limit.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
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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 · Jul 10, 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 Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: 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 · Natural Resources · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
Water--Conservation (I097L)
PERMITS
Text
The text as introduced · 342 words
89R15507 JBD-F By: Olcott H.B. No. 4772 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to exemptions from the requirement to obtain a permit from a groundwater conservation district for certain groundwater wells. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 36.117(b), Water Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Except as provided by this section, a district shall provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a permit for: (1) drilling or operating a well used solely for domestic use or for providing water for livestock or poultry if the well is: (A) located or to be located on a tract of land larger than 100 [ 10 ] acres; and (B) drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater a day; (2) drilling a water well used solely to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling or exploration operations for an oil or gas well permitted by the Railroad Commission of Texas provided that the person holding the permit is responsible for drilling and operating the water well and the water well is located on the same lease or field associated with the drilling rig; (3) drilling a water well authorized under a permit issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Chapter 134, Natural Resources Code, or for production from the well to the extent the withdrawals are required for mining activities regardless of any subsequent use of the water; [ or ] (4) drilling a water well for temporary use to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater production well permitted by the district ; or (5) drilling or operating a well that is located or to be located on a tract of land of 100 acres or less in size and drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is incapable of producing more than 10,000 gallons of groundwater a day . SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.