SB 163
bill to make groundwater district ask about decorative ponds
Filed
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
Caption
relating to the authority of the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District to consider certain factors before granting or denying a permit.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Filling a decorative lake over two acres? The district may weigh that.
The bill requires the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District to weigh one extra factor before it grants or denies a well permit or permit amendment. That factor is whether the well water will fill, in whole or in part, a decorative pond or lake larger than two acres. It applies only to applications filed on or after the bill takes effect, which is immediately with a two-thirds vote or otherwise September 1, 2027.
Receipt
The receipt
90R-SB163 · 2026-11-09
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the authority of the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District to consider certain factors before granting or denying a permit.
WHAT IT DOES
Filling a decorative lake over two acres? The district may weigh that.
The bill requires the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District to weigh one extra factor before it grants or denies a well permit or permit amendment. That factor is whether the well water will fill, in whole or in part, a decorative pond or lake larger than two acres. It applies only to applications filed on or after the bill takes effect, which is immediately with a two-thirds vote or otherwise September 1, 2027.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 15, 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$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.
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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 S Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Subjects
NORTH TEXAS GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (DB56D)
Special Districts & Authorities--Groundwater Conserve Dist.
Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility
Water--Conservation (I097L)
PERMITS
Text
The text as introduced · 215 words
By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 163 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District to consider certain factors before granting or denying a permit. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 8856, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8856.1055 to read as follows: Sec. 8856.1055. PERMIT CONSIDERATIONS; PONDS AND LAKES. Before granting or denying a permit or a permit amendment issued in accordance with Section 36.1146, Water Code, the district shall consider whether the proposed use of water from the well is wholly or partly to provide water to a pond or lake with a surface area greater than two acres to enhance the appearance of the landscape. SECTION 2. Section 8856.1055, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for a permit or permit amendment submitted on or after the effective date of 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, 2027.