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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas |
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over and a study of the upstream production, pipeline |
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transportation, and storage of hydrogen. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.051(a), Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission has jurisdiction over all: |
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(1) common carrier pipelines defined in Section |
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111.002 of this code in Texas; |
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(2) oil and gas wells in Texas; |
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(3) persons owning or operating pipelines in Texas; |
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[and] |
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(4) persons owning or engaged in drilling or operating |
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oil or gas wells in Texas; and |
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(5) pipeline transportation and underground storage of |
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hydrogen. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.075 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.075. TEXAS HYDROGEN PRODUCTION POLICY COUNCIL. (a) |
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In this section, "council" means the Texas hydrogen production |
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policy council. |
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(b) The Texas hydrogen production policy council is |
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established within the commission to study and make recommendations |
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relating to the commission's policy framework for hydrogen energy |
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development. |
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(c) The council is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioners; and |
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(2) nine members appointed by the commission to |
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represent as many different types of participants as possible, |
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including at least three representatives from the hydrogen |
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industry. |
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(d) A member of the council is not entitled to compensation |
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or reimbursement of expenses for service on the council. |
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(e) The council: |
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(1) shall study the development of hydrogen industries |
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in this state, including the development of upstream facilities for |
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the production, pipeline transportation, and storage of hydrogen; |
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(2) shall monitor regional efforts for the application |
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and development of a regional clean hydrogen hub authorized under |
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the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. No. 117-58) or |
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another federal act; |
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(3) may coordinate actions with other state agencies |
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in supporting an application for a regional clean hydrogen hub |
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described by Subdivision (2); and |
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(4) shall develop a state plan for hydrogen production |
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oversight and regulation by the commission. |
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(f) The council may make recommendations relating to: |
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(1) commission rules needed for the oversight and |
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regulation of upstream production, pipeline transportation, and |
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storage of hydrogen; and |
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(2) changes in statute needed to clarify the |
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commission's jurisdiction over upstream production, pipeline |
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transportation, and storage of hydrogen. |
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(g) The council is abolished and this section expires on |
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January 1, 2030. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |