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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of |
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injection wells used to dispose of oil and gas waste; authorizing a |
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fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 27.031, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 27.031. PERMIT FROM RAILROAD COMMISSION; REPORT. (a) |
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No person may continue using a disposal well or begin drilling a |
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disposal well or converting an existing well into a disposal well to |
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dispose of oil and gas waste without first obtaining a permit from |
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the railroad commission. |
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(b) The railroad commission shall require a permit holder to |
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provide the commission with a daily report regarding: |
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(1) the amount of produced water injected into the |
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disposal well; and |
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(2) the surface injection pressure data taken from the |
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disposal well. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 27, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Sections 27.0311 and 27.038 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 27.0311. FEE. (a) For each injection well issued a |
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permit, the railroad commission shall impose a fee of: |
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(1) one cent per barrel of oil and gas waste injected |
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if the oil and gas waste is produced within the commission oil and |
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gas division district in which the injection well is located; or |
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(2) ten cents per barrel of oil and gas waste injected |
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if the oil and gas waste is not produced within the commission oil |
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and gas division district in which the injection well is located. |
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(b) A fee collected under Subsection (a) shall be deposited |
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in the injection and abandoned wells cleanup fund under Section |
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27.038. |
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Sec. 27.038. INJECTION AND ABANDONED WELLS CLEANUP FUND. |
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(a) The injection and abandoned wells cleanup fund is created as an |
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account in the general revenue fund of the state treasury. |
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(b) The fund consists of fees collected under Section |
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27.0311. |
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(c) Money in the injection and abandoned wells cleanup fund |
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may be used by the railroad commission or its employees or agents |
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only to fund projects related to researching: |
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(1) the reuse and treatment for reuse of produced |
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water; and |
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(2) the surface remediation and plugging of abandoned |
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wells. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |