| 1 | 1 | | 89R15507 JBD-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Olcott H.B. No. 4772 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to exemptions from the requirement to obtain a permit from |
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| 10 | 10 | | a groundwater conservation district for certain groundwater wells. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 36.117(b), Water Code, is amended to |
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| 13 | 13 | | read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (b) Except as provided by this section, a district shall |
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| 15 | 15 | | provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a |
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| 16 | 16 | | permit for: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) drilling or operating a well used solely for |
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| 18 | 18 | | domestic use or for providing water for livestock or poultry if the |
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| 19 | 19 | | well is: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (A) located or to be located on a tract of land |
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| 21 | 21 | | larger than 100 [10] acres; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | (B) drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is |
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| 23 | 23 | | incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater a |
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| 24 | 24 | | day; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) drilling a water well used solely to supply water |
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| 26 | 26 | | for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling or exploration |
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| 27 | 27 | | operations for an oil or gas well permitted by the Railroad |
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| 28 | 28 | | Commission of Texas provided that the person holding the permit is |
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| 29 | 29 | | responsible for drilling and operating the water well and the water |
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| 30 | 30 | | well is located on the same lease or field associated with the |
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| 31 | 31 | | drilling rig; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (3) drilling a water well authorized under a permit |
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| 33 | 33 | | issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Chapter 134, |
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| 34 | 34 | | Natural Resources Code, or for production from the well to the |
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| 35 | 35 | | extent the withdrawals are required for mining activities |
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| 36 | 36 | | regardless of any subsequent use of the water; [or] |
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| 37 | 37 | | (4) drilling a water well for temporary use to supply |
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| 38 | 38 | | water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater |
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| 39 | 39 | | production well permitted by the district; or |
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| 40 | 40 | | (5) drilling or operating a well that is located or to |
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| 41 | 41 | | be located on a tract of land of 100 acres or less in size and |
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| 42 | 42 | | drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is incapable of |
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| 43 | 43 | | producing more than 10,000 gallons of groundwater a day. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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