By: Harris H.B. No. 27 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the consideration by a groundwater conservation district of modeled available groundwater when issuing permits. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 8863, Special District Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8863.1031 to read as follows: Sec. 8863.1031. STUDY, REPORT, AND MORATORIUM (a) The Texas Water Development Board shall conduct a study limited to the geographic boundaries of the District to: (1) analyze the maximum amount of groundwater that can be produced annually in perpetuity from the aquifer underlying the District without impeding the achievement of the District's modeled available groundwater; and (2) assess the hydrological impacts to the area within the District, including the average annual recharge, inflows, discharges, spring flows, and interaction between groundwater and surface water, from transfers of groundwater out of the aquifer underlying the District. (b) Not later than January 12, 2027, the Texas Water Development Board shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over natural resources a report on the results of the study conducted under this section. (c) The district may not issue a new permit or permit amendment to an applicant for the production and transfer out of the district of groundwater. (d) This section expires September 1, 2027. SECTION 2. Section 8863.1031, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a new permit or an amended permit issued by the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.