Relating to requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to study and report about water rights that may be subject to cancellation for nonuse.

HB 5044 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to study water rights that may be canceled for nonuse every five years. The TCEQ must analyze permits, filings, and certificates where water wasn’t used beneficially for 10 consecutive years and report specific details, including water volumes, cancellation status, and potential dedication to the Texas Water Trust. This affects water rights holders whose permits haven’t been used for a decade, as the report will identify which rights may face cancellation. The first report is due by December 31, 2026, and the requirement expires September 1, 2027. The bill focuses on procedural reporting, not altering water rights laws directly.