Amend CSSB 1150 (house committee printing) as follows:
(1) On page 1, strike lines 21 through 24 and substitute the following:
(1) on request of the operator, the commission by order determines that:
(A) the operator's demonstrated history of returning inactive wells to operation warrants the granting of the extension; or
(B) the operator's financial hardship in complying with Subsection (b)(1) warrants the granting of the extension;
(2) On page 2, lines 3 and 4, strike "restoring the inactive well to operation by September 1, 2040" and substitute "bringing the inactive well into production or operation as an injection well or other type of operation by September 1, 2042".
(3) On page 2, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following appropriately lettered subsections and reletter subsequent subsections and cross-references to those subsections accordingly:
(____) An operator asserting financial hardship as the basis for an extension under Subsection (c)(1)(B) shall submit to the commission an attestation signed by the operator's authorized representative. The attestation must include:
(1) a statement that the commission should consider an extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well described by Subsection (b)(1) because of the operator's financial hardship; and
(2) a sworn financial statement certified by a certified public accountant.
(____) When considering whether to grant an operator's request for the extension of the deadline for plugging an inactive well under Subsection (c)(1)(B), the commission may consider:
(1) the attestation, including the statement and financial statement, submitted to the commission under Subsection (d);
(2) the operator's prior investment in the plugging or maintenance of wells;
(3) the operator's history of compliance, including any history of previous violations and the seriousness of those violations;
(4) current economic conditions;
(5) the operator's percentage of inactive wells compared to the operator's total well count; and
(6) any other information as required by commission rules.
(4) On page 2, lines 11 and 12, strike "or the commission's delegate".
(5) On page 6, strike line 3 and substitute the following:
SECTION 4. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
(b) Section 89.023, Natural Resources Code, as amended by this Act, takes effect September 1, 2027.
(6) Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Not later than December 31, 2026, the Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Chapter 89, Natural Resources Code, as amended by this Act. Rules adopted under this section must take effect September 1, 2027.