HB 5385

new exception to the Edwards Aquifer injection well ban

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Williamson County east of Interstate 35 only. The water goes beneath the Edwards.

The bill adds a new exception to the state's general ban on injection wells that pass through or end in the Edwards Aquifer. It lets the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit aquifer storage and recovery wells that pass through the Edwards Aquifer in the part of Williamson County east of Interstate 35, as long as the water is injected into a rock formation beneath the Edwards. The agency must write rules for this by March 1, 2026, and the change takes effect right away if two-thirds of each house votes for it, or September 1, 2025, if not.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5385 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Terry M. WilsonRHouse 20

ITEM

relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.

WHAT IT DOES

Williamson County east of Interstate 35 only. The water goes beneath the Edwards.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Natural Resources

FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

“an aquifer storage and recovery project that includes an ASR injection well, as defined under Section 27.151, that transects the Edwards Aquifer in the area of Williamson County east of Interstate Highway 35”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill opens a narrow exception to the Edwards Aquifer injection-well ban so water can be stored underground beneath the aquifer in eastern Williamson County.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Terry M. Wilson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$414K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$231KKenneth Mongold$25,000

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 23, 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$413,658.18

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$413,658.18

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $378,658.18
Total: $413,658.18

mail $190,451.68advertising $178,456.50polling $8,750.00Other filed descriptions $1,000.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 20, 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: 101007854, 101030352, 101067580, 101071564.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$231,075.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$231,075.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $181,075.00
Total: $231,075.00

canvassing $157,125.00polling $23,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 25, 2026 to Oct 18, 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: 101067580, 101071564.

Kenneth Mongold$25,000.00

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$413,658.18

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $378,658.18
Total: $413,658.18

mail $190,451.68advertising $178,456.50polling $8,750.00Other filed descriptions $1,000.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 20, 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: 101007854, 101030352, 101067580, 101071564.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$231,075.00

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $181,075.00
Total: $231,075.00

canvassing $157,125.00polling $23,950.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 25, 2026 to Oct 18, 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: 101067580, 101071564.

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 14, 2025

04/07/2025 H Referred to Natural Resources: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM

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 616 by Schwertner (very similar)

Subjects

WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Environment--Water

Water--Conservation (I097L)

Water--Development

EDWARDS AQUIFER

INJECTION WELLS

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON

Text

The text as introduced · 280 words

By: Wilson
H.B. No. 5385

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a

portion of the Edwards Aquifer.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27.051(i), Water Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(i) For purposes of this subsection, "Edwards Aquifer" has

the meaning assigned by Section 26.046(a). Except as otherwise

provided by this subsection, the commission may not authorize by

rule or permit an injection well that transects or terminates in the

Edwards Aquifer. The commission by rule or permit may authorize:

(1) injection of groundwater withdrawn from the

Edwards Aquifer;

(2) injections of storm water, flood water, or

groundwater through improved sinkholes or caves located in karst

topographic areas; [ or ]

(3) injections of water made in accordance with

Section 1.44(e)(3), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature,

Regular Session, 1993 ; or

(4) an aquifer storage and recovery project that

includes an ASR injection well, as defined under Section 27.151,

that transects the Edwards Aquifer in the area of Williamson County

east of Interstate Highway 35 for the injection of water into a

geologic formation that underlies the Edwards Aquifer .

SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2026, the Texas

Commission on Environmental Quality shall adopt rules to implement

Section 27.051(i), Water Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.