| 1 | 1 | | S.B. No. 1210 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 5 | | relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to |
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| 6 | 6 | | designate certain persons as the operator of an orphaned oil or gas |
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| 7 | 7 | | well. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 89.047(a), Natural Resources Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Subdivisions (1-a) and (1-b) to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (1-a) "Energy conservation well" means a well used for |
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| 12 | 12 | | the retention of energy that may be used to provide dispatchable |
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| 13 | 13 | | generation of electricity for the power grid. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1-b) "Geothermal energy and associated resources" |
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| 15 | 15 | | has the meaning assigned by Section 141.003. |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Section 89.047(f), Natural Resources Code, is |
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| 17 | 17 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (f) The commission shall designate the person as the |
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| 19 | 19 | | operator of the well if the person files with the commission: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) a factually supported claim based on a recognized |
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| 21 | 21 | | legal theory to a continuing possessory right in: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (A) the mineral estate accessed by the well, |
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| 23 | 23 | | [such] as established by [evidence of] a current oil and gas lease, |
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| 24 | 24 | | [or] a recorded deed conveying a fee interest in the mineral estate, |
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| 25 | 25 | | or any other documentation of an interest in the mineral estate; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (B) the geothermal energy and associated |
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| 27 | 27 | | resources estate accessed by the well, as established by a current |
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| 28 | 28 | | geothermal lease, a recorded deed conveying a fee interest in the |
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| 29 | 29 | | geothermal estate, or any other documentation of an interest in the |
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| 30 | 30 | | geothermal estate; or |
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| 31 | 31 | | (C) the geologic space accessed by the well for |
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| 32 | 32 | | the purpose of an energy conservation well, as established by a |
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| 33 | 33 | | recorded deed conveying a fee interest in the space accessed by the |
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| 34 | 34 | | well or any other documentation of an interest in that space; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (2) a completed certificate of compliance; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (3) a nonrefundable fee in the amount of $250. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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| 38 | 38 | | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 40 | 40 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1210 passed the Senate on |
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| 41 | 41 | | April 20, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 42 | 42 | | ______________________________ |
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| 43 | 43 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 44 | 44 | | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1210 passed the House on |
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| 45 | 45 | | May 5, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, two present |
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| 46 | 46 | | not voting. |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 49 | 49 | | Approved: |
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| 50 | 50 | | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Date |
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| 52 | 52 | | ______________________________ |
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| 53 | 53 | | Governor |
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