Groundwater has long provided a major part of the Texas water supply. Undeveloped groundwater can help meet growing demand for water in Texas. Texas has two distinct legal systems governing water: groundwater and surface water. Surface water is owned by the state, which grants water rights to use specific volumes of water for beneficial uses. The Texas Water Code recognizes surface water rights issued in perpetuity as private rights that can be bought and sold.
Local Government
Come and Build It: Housing Policy Reform in Texas
Texas is short more than 300,000 housing units, while 90% of Texans are worried about affordability. To ease these twin crises, policymakers passed an ambitious set of free-market-minded measures to boost supply and lower costs. Key points: The 89th Texas Legislature passed five key housing market reforms to increase supply, reduce government interference, and improve...
November 3, 2025