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2025 · Regular session · Senate bill
SB616
SB616 permits a narrow new exception to the restriction on injection wells crossing the Edwards Aquifer.
Official caption: Relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a portion of the Edwards Aquifer.
Official report lists Senate author(s): Schwertner. This does not identify sponsors or amendment drafters.
Bill explanation published · Version and amendment review scope is stated below · Individual amendment records may not be separately annotated.
Bill highlights
Selected points from the published explanation. Follow each point to its source-linked context; conditions and limits may matter.
- SB616 permits a narrow new exception to the restriction on injection wells crossing the Edwards Aquifer.
- Aquifer storage and recovery means injecting water for later recovery and beneficial use.
- The law took effect May 24, 2025, when signed after receiving the required two-thirds votes.
What does it do?
SB616 permits a narrow new exception to the restriction on injection wells crossing the Edwards Aquifer. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may authorize water injection into a formation beneath the aquifer for an aquifer storage and recovery project whose injection well crosses the aquifer in either Williamson County east of Interstate 35 or Medina County. The new exception is for storage below the Edwards, not an unrestricted authorization to inject into the Edwards itself. Enacted geographic and geologic limits.
Aquifer storage and recovery means injecting water for later recovery and beneficial use. SB616 expands what the commission may authorize by rule or permit; it does not itself approve a particular well or pay for a project. The general restriction and the three pre-existing exceptions remain in Section 27.051(i). ASR definitions; Complete amended subsection.
The law took effect May 24, 2025, when signed after receiving the required two-thirds votes. It required the commission to adopt implementing rules by March 1, 2026. That is a statutory deadline, not a finding here that any particular rule or project has been approved. History; Sections 2–3.
What changed along the way?
The introduced bill, Senate committee version, engrossed bill and House committee version covered only Williamson County east of Interstate 35. Both posted House amendments proposed adding Medina County and rearranging the sentence to emphasize injection into the underlying formation. Amendment 1 was withdrawn; amendment 2 was adopted on May 2. Their posted replacement text is identical, but only the adopted amendment became part of the bill. Introduced text; Version index; Withdrawn amendment 1; Adopted amendment 2; Recorded outcomes.
The House passed the amended bill May 5, and the Senate concurred May 12. The enrolled act retains both locations and the original March 2026 rulemaking deadline. Legislative actions; Final law.
For the full amendment record, open the official amendment index.
Official bill versions
Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.
Who could benefit—and who could bear the costs?
Eligible project operators gain a possible route to store water underground for later use. Actual supply benefits depend on authorization, engineering, available water and successful recovery; the statute guarantees no storage volume or lower water bill. It leaves existing ASR technical standards, metering, monthly volume reporting and annual water-quality testing provisions in place. Those requirements matter to operators and people concerned about groundwater protection, but this review does not certify any proposed well as safe. Limited authorization; Technical standards; Metering and reporting; Water-quality testing.
All four posted fiscal notes anticipate no significant state or local fiscal impact and assume agency costs can be absorbed with existing resources. The latest May 6 note covers the bill as passed by the second chamber, including Medina County. It does not estimate construction costs, water savings or project revenues; SB616 appropriates no funds for those projects. Latest fiscal note.
Official sources
- Bill history and latest recorded action
- Bill versions, analyses and fiscal notes
- Action history and votes
- Amendment index
Catalog report retrieved 2026-10-25. Check the official record for corrections or later changes.