✅Relating to the use of certain groundwater export fees collected by a groundwater conservation district.

HB 1689

✅ HB 1689: Letting Groundwater Districts Cooperate Across Borders

What it says it does:
HB 1689 lets groundwater conservation districts use certain export-fee revenues to help fix or replace wells that have been harmed by groundwater pumping, even when those wells sit just outside the district’s borders.

What it actually changes:
Before this bill, a district’s spending authority stopped at its boundary. HB 1689 adds flexibility by allowing cross-border cooperation when districts sign formal interlocal agreements. The funds must come from export-fee increases made after January 1, 2024, and can only be used for well repair, alternative water supplies, or aquifer science.

Who is pushing for it:
Support came from groundwater districts, the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, the Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, League of Independent Voters of Texas, and the Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund. The author is Rep. Gerdes.

Who benefits:
Local districts gain a clear legal path to address water impacts beyond their own boundaries. Homeowners and farmers near district lines benefit when aquifer drawdowns cross borders and one district steps up to help.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Districts that haven’t raised export fees after January 1, 2024, may not have any money available for this type of cooperation. There is also no new requirement for public reporting or audits of how these funds are used.

Why this matters long term:
Water shortages and export pressures are only growing. HB 1689 encourages districts to act regionally without new bureaucracy or state mandates. If implemented transparently, it could strengthen local control and reduce conflicts between neighboring areas.

What to watch next:
Will districts use this authority or leave it sitting on paper? Watch for interlocal contracts, transparency on spending, and whether lawmakers add reporting rules next session.

Bottom line:
HB 1689 is a practical, local-first step that encourages collaboration instead of control from Austin. It keeps power in local hands while giving Texans near district borders a better shot at protecting their wells and water supply.

#HB1689 #TexasPolicy #WaterRights #Groundwater #KnowBeforeYouVote