SB 2498
counties without a groundwater district get a planning seat
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 the participation of certain counties in joint planning in groundwater management areas.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Their representative joins joint planning like a district one, with state technical help.
The bill lets a county that sits in a groundwater management area but has no groundwater district inside its borders name a representative to join the regional joint planning process. That representative can take part like a district representative and present information on desired future conditions and groundwater availability. The state environmental commission and the Texas Water Development Board must give those counties technical help in the process, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2498 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the participation of certain counties in joint planning in groundwater management areas.
WHAT IT DOES
Their representative joins joint planning like a district one, with state technical help.
The bill lets a county that sits in a groundwater management area but has no groundwater district inside its borders name a representative to join the regional joint planning process. That representative can take part like a district representative and present information on desired future conditions and groundwater availability. The state environmental commission and the Texas Water Development Board must give those counties technical help in the process, starting September 1, 2025.
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
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
“is entitled to participate in the joint planning process in the same manner as a district representative in order to promote the county's interests in regional groundwater planning”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill gives counties without groundwater districts a seat in the regional planning that decides how much groundwater may be used.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
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 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.
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
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 Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 S Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
County Government--Employees/Officers
Environment--Water
Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility
Water--Development
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 229 words
89R12896 ANG-F By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2498 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the participation of certain counties in joint planning in groundwater management areas. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 36, Water Code, is amended by adding Section 36.1087 to read as follows: Sec. 36.1087. PARTICIPATION OF CERTAIN COUNTIES IN JOINT PLANNING FOR MANAGEMENT AREA. (a) A county that is located wholly or partly in a management area and that does not have within its boundaries a district located in the management area may participate in the joint planning process as provided by Sections 36.108 and 36.1081 through a representative designated by the governing body of the county. (b) A representative appointed under Subsection (a) is entitled to participate in the joint planning process in the same manner as a district representative in order to promote the county's interests in regional groundwater planning. The representative may present to the joint planning process information regarding desired future conditions and estimates of groundwater resources and availability. (c) The commission and the Texas Water Development Board shall provide to a county that has designated a representative under this section technical assistance in the joint planning process as necessary to further the county's interests in the outcome of the process. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.