HB4630

HB4630 narrows the reach of a Water Code subchapter governing artesian wells and removes several TCEQ-specific reporting provisions. It was signed and took effect June 20, 2025.

Under new Section 11.2011, most of the artesian-well subchapter applies only outside a groundwater conservation district, subsidence district or other conservation and reclamation district authorized to regulate well drilling, spacing or production. This is not a blanket exemption from local groundwater rules or all state well laws.

Two protections remain applicable regardless of that district boundary:

• Section 11.202(c): Water containing substances harmful to vegetation or agriculture must be controlled, the well capped, or the well properly plugged as specified, to prevent the described injury or escape of water.
• Section 11.206: An improperly cased or controlled artesian well that allows the specified surface flow or underground waste remains a public nuisance subject to abatement by TCEQ’s executive director.

The act repeals the requirements to send TCEQ a completed artesian-well drilling record by registered mail, submit a sworn new-well report within a year, and submit the specified annual non-domestic-use report. It also removes a restriction expressly limited to the September 1991–January 1994 period and its exemption procedure. Removing that expired provision is not a new general permission to drill high-flow wells.

Other well records and protections still matter. For example, Occupations Code Section 1901.251 separately requires a driller’s well log and delivery of copies. HB4630 does not repeal that law, and groundwater districts retain their separate statutory powers.

The bill removes the repealed drilling-record provision from Water Code Section 7.142’s offense list and updates the numbering. It retains the offense reference for unlawful waste under Section 11.205 where that provision applies. The associated Section 7.187 penalty remains a fine up to $1,000, confinement up to 90 days, or both; this bill does not increase that ceiling.