SB 1720
groundwater fee cap goes from 20 to 50 cents
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 production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Well owners pay up to two and a half times the old cap.
The bill raises the maximum production fee the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District may charge from 20 cents to 50 cents per thousand gallons. It touches owners of non-exempt wells in that district who pay fees based on the water they pump. Starting September 1, 2025, the district can charge those well owners up to two and a half times the old cap.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 129 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 129 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).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 27, 2025 and referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1720 · 2025-02-27
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee.
WHAT IT DOES
Well owners pay up to two and a half times the old cap.
The bill raises the maximum production fee the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District may charge from 20 cents to 50 cents per thousand gallons. It touches owners of non-exempt wells in that district who pay fees based on the water they pump. Starting September 1, 2025, the district can charge those well owners up to two and a half times the old cap.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)
NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEES · analysis confidence 30%
THE TEXT
…“production fee under this section in an amount greater than 50 [ 20 ]”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill raises the cap on an existing fee rather than creating a new one, but it does authorize a bigger fee. The caption says so openly.
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“reasonable production fees on each well that is not exempt from”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill lets a local groundwater district charge large water pumpers more per thousand gallons withdrawn.
The bill expands the fee power of one special district created by local law.
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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 1, 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 Senate · Filed Feb 27, 2025
03/13/2025 S Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 1529 by Goodwin (identical)
Subjects
SOUTHWESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (DV0AC)
Environment--Water
Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--Local
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
Text
The text as introduced · 129 words
89R4861 JBD-D By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1720 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to production fees imposed by the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing an increase in the rate of the fee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 8871.154, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 8871.154. PRODUCTION FEE. The district may impose reasonable production fees on each well that is not exempt from permitting under Section 8871.103 based on the amount of water actually withdrawn from the well. The district may not impose a production fee under this section in an amount greater than 50 [ 20 ] cents per thousand gallons. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.