SB 2159

Flores Aquifer Bill Exempts Medina County Projects From Injection Ban

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsNeeds review

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

Why it's charged

Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“transects the Edwards Aquifer in Medina County for the injection of”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The exception to the Edwards Aquifer injection ban reaches only projects in one named county. The caption says only 'a portion of the Edwards Aquifer' and never names Medina County.

Carve-out

Needs review · Nov 1, 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

Caption: “a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.” Bill: Medina County, and only Medina County.

The bill adds one new exception to the state's general ban on injection wells that pass through or end in the Edwards Aquifer. Permits can be allowed for aquifer storage and recovery projects in Medina County that drill through the Edwards to store water in a formation beneath it. The state environmental agency must write rules to carry this out by March 1, 2026, and the bill takes effect right away or on September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee on Apr 28, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2159 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: “a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.” Bill: Medina County, and only Medina County.

CHARGES

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

…“transects the Edwards Aquifer in Medina County for the injection of”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The exception to the Edwards Aquifer injection ban reaches only projects in one named county. The caption says only 'a portion of the Edwards Aquifer' and never names Medina County.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 24, 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

Mar 10, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 10, 2025Filed
Mar 24, 2025Read first time
Mar 24, 2025Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
Apr 28, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 28, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 28, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 28, 2025Left pending in committee

FILED UNDER

DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID

THE TEXT

…“transects the Edwards Aquifer in Medina County for the injection of”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill opens a path to permit wells that drill through the Edwards Aquifer to store water underground in Medina County, which shapes who can bank and pull water there.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Pete Flores

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55KMorris Jaffe$25,000Justin Jaffe$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 · Jul 12, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

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 · Dec 13, 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.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Morris Jaffe$25,000.00

Justin Jaffe$25,000.00

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

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 · Dec 13, 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.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 24, 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 I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 10, 2025

04/28/2025 S Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 4931 by Virdell (identical)

Subjects

MEDINA COUNTY

Environment--Water

Water--Conservation (I097L)

Water--Development

Water--General

EDWARDS AQUIFER

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON

Text

The text as introduced · 274 words

89R16112 CMO-F

By: Flores
S.B. No. 2159

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 by Section 27.151, that

transects the Edwards Aquifer in Medina County 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.