SB 2832
groundwater permits stay alive while their validity is in court
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 expiration date of certain permits issued by groundwater conservation districts.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Upheld, it lives two years past final judgment. Struck down, it ends that day.
The bill makes a groundwater conservation district push back the expiration date of a drilling, operating, or transfer permit while the permit holder is being sued over whether the permit was properly issued or is valid. If the permit is upheld, it stays alive until two years after the final judgment, and if it is struck down, it ends on the date of final judgment. Permit holders who filed the suit themselves, owe district fees, face pending enforcement, or have unpaid penalties do not get the extension, and the rule covers permits issued on or after January 1, 2022.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2832 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the expiration date of certain permits issued by groundwater conservation districts.
WHAT IT DOES
Upheld, it lives two years past final judgment. Struck down, it ends that day.
The bill makes a groundwater conservation district push back the expiration date of a drilling, operating, or transfer permit while the permit holder is being sued over whether the permit was properly issued or is valid. If the permit is upheld, it stays alive until two years after the final judgment, and if it is struck down, it ends on the date of final judgment. Permit holders who filed the suit themselves, owe district fees, face pending enforcement, or have unpaid penalties do not get the extension, and the rule covers permits issued on or after January 1, 2022.
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
“A district shall delay the expiration date of a drilling, operating, or transfer permit, and the expiration of any associated permits issued to the permit holder by the district”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill keeps groundwater pumping and transfer permits alive while they are challenged in court, which affects who holds the right to the water.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Top donors to Texans for Kelly Hancock SPAC during his Senate service. Not tied to this bill.
Sources
Gifts to Texans for Kelly Hancock SPAC dated July 1, 2024 to June 18, 2025, while he served in the Senate.
Derived from itemized gifts. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing 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 Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 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 4138 by Bell, Cecil (identical)
Subjects
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility
Water--Conservation (I097L)
PERMITS
Text
The text as introduced · 324 words
89R15582 SCR-F By: Hancock S.B. No. 2832 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the expiration date of certain permits issued by groundwater conservation districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 36, Water Code, is amended by adding Section 36.1141 to read as follows: Sec. 36.1141. EXPIRATION OF PERMITS SUBJECT TO LITIGATION. (a) A district shall delay the expiration date of a drilling, operating, or transfer permit, and the expiration of any associated permits issued to the permit holder by the district, if the expiration date occurs while the drilling, operating, or transfer permit holder is a party to litigation concerning the issuance or validity of the permit. (b) The district shall delay the expiration date until: (1) if the litigation ultimately results in the permit being held to be valid, the two-year anniversary of the date on which a final, nonappealable judgment in the litigation concerning the permit is issued; or (2) if the litigation ultimately results in the permit being held invalid, the date on which a final, nonappealable judgment in the litigation concerning the permit is issued. (c) This section does not apply to litigation initiated by the permit holder. (d) This section does not apply to a permit holder who: (1) is delinquent in paying a fee required by the district; (2) is subject to a pending enforcement action for a substantive violation of a district permit, order, or rule that has not been settled by agreement with the district or a final adjudication; or (3) has not paid a civil penalty or has otherwise failed to comply with an order resulting from a final adjudication of a violation of a district permit, order, or rule. SECTION 2. Section 36.1141, Water Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a permit issued on or after January 1, 2022. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.