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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the rights of certain parties in connection with the |
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performance of certain tests on certain inactive wells subject to |
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the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 89.026, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and |
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(b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b) At [The operator must notify the office of the |
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commission oil and gas division district in which an inactive well |
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is located at] least three days before the date on which the |
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operator proposes to conduct [conducts] a fluid level or hydraulic |
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pressure test of an inactive [the] well, the operator must notify: |
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(1) the office of the commission oil and gas division |
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district in which the well is located; |
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(2) any groundwater conservation district any portion |
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of the territory of which is located within three miles of the well; |
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and |
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(3) the owner of the surface estate of the tract of |
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land on which the well is located. |
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(b-1) An operator [and] may not conduct a [the] test under |
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this section without the approval of the office to which notice of |
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the proposed test is given under Subsection (b)(1). The commission |
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may require that a test be witnessed by a commission employee. A |
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representative of any groundwater conservation district to which |
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notice of a proposed test is given under Subsection (b)(2) and a |
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surface estate owner, or the representative of a surface estate |
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owner, to whom notice of a proposed test is given under Subsection |
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(b)(3) are entitled to witness the test. |
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(b-2) An operator shall provide the results of an |
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unsuccessful fluid level or hydraulic pressure test conducted under |
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this section to any groundwater conservation district to which |
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notice of the test was given under Subsection (b)(2) and the surface |
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estate owner to whom notice of the test was given under Subsection |
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(b)(3). |
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SECTION 2. Section 89.026, Natural Resources Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies only to a fluid level or hydraulic |
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pressure test conducted on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |