Law & policy

Texas data center legislation tracker

The Texas bills, statutes, and local ordinances shaping data centers, water, and landowner rights — each summarized in plain English and linked to the official record. We track accountability, not opposition to technology.

Enacted laws

4 tracked

In effectHB 49 · 89R (2025)

HB 49 — Produced Water Reuse & Liability Limit

Stage 8 of 8 · Law

Sets rules for treating and beneficially reusing produced water — the salty wastewater from oil and gas operations — and limits the tort liability of those who treat, transport, or use it. The liability limit does not cover gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or violations of Railroad Commission rules or TCEQ permits, and it does not change a producer's existing liability to landowners.

Why it matters: As industry and data centers eye treated produced water as a new supply, this law shapes who bears the risk if reuse causes harm — while leaving landowners' existing claims intact.

Stolen Water

See where it stands Effective · September 1, 2025

In effectSB 1583 · 89R (2025)

SB 1583 — Groundwater District Management Plan Criteria

Stage 8 of 8 · Law

Adjusts the criteria local groundwater conservation districts use to write their state-mandated management plans — the plans, built around each area's Desired Future Conditions and the resulting Modeled Available Groundwater, that govern how much groundwater may be permitted and pumped.

Why it matters: These district plans set how much groundwater can be permitted and pumped — directly affecting landowners who own and rely on the water beneath their land.

Stolen WaterRuined Property Value

See where it stands Effective · September 1, 2025

In effectSB 6 · 89R (2025)

SB 6 — Large-Load Grid Interconnection (Data Centers)

Stage 8 of 8 · Law

Overhauls how very large electricity users — explicitly including data centers — connect to and operate on the Texas grid (ERCOT). It sets a default 75-megawatt threshold for a 'large load,' requires transmission screening studies and a screening fee, lets ERCOT directly curtail these loads during grid emergencies, and adds disclosure and review requirements for on-site (co-located) generation.

Why it matters: Data centers' enormous power demand drives much of the strain landowners feel on electricity and water. SB 6 is Texas's first major attempt to make large loads share grid costs and give up power during emergencies.

See where it stands Signed by the governor · June 20, 2025

In effectSB 7 · 89R (2025)

SB 7 — Texas Water Supply & Infrastructure Financing

Stage 8 of 8 · Law

A package of financing, administrative, and infrastructure measures aimed at Texas's current and projected water shortages, expanding state water-supply funding and long-term planning.

Why it matters: It frames how Texas pays to secure future water — the backdrop against which heavy new water users like data centers compete with farms, ranches, and households for a limited supply.

Stolen Water

See where it stands Enacted, 89th Legislature (2025)

Local ordinances

1 tracked

AdoptedHill County

Hill County — One-Year Data Center Construction Pause

Stage 4 of 4 · Adopted

Hill County approved a one-year pause on new data center construction, with county leaders citing concerns over water use, power demand, noise, and public safety.

Why it matters: It is among the first Texas counties to try to slow data center development — a test of how much power rural counties actually have to protect residents.

Stolen WaterRuined Property Value

See where it stands Pause approved · May 12, 2026

Texas holds regular legislative sessions in odd-numbered years; the next is in 2027. During the interim this page tracks enacted laws and local action, and fills in as bills are filed. Summaries are our own words, for general information only and not legal advice — follow each link for the official record.