Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3911 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R8688 JAM-F
2	2	By: Darby H.B. No. 3911
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the plugging or replugging of certain inactive wells
10	10	subject to the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Section 89.045, Natural Resources Code, is
13	13	amended to read as follows:
14	14	Sec. 89.045. LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES. The commission and its
15	15	employees and agents, the operator, [and] the nonoperator, and any
16	16	private person who has paid money to the commission to plug or
17	17	replug a well under Section 89.084 are not liable for any damages
18	18	that may occur as a result of acts done or omitted to be done by them
19	19	or each of them in a good-faith effort to carry out this chapter.
20	20	SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 89, Natural Resources
21	21	Code, is amended by adding Section 89.049 to read as follows:
22	22	Sec. 89.049. PLUGGING OR REPLUGGING OF ORPHANED WELL BY OIL
23	23	AND GAS LESSEE OR MINERAL ESTATE OWNER. (a) In this section,
24	24	"operator in good standing" and "orphaned well" have the meanings
25	25	assigned by Section 89.047.
26	26	(b) An operator in good standing who is the owner of an
27	27	interest in a current oil and gas lease or the mineral estate of a
28	28	tract of land on which an orphaned well is located may contract with
29	29	a commission-approved well plugger to plug or replug the well.
30	30	(c) A well plugger who enters into a contract under
31	31	Subsection (b) shall:
32	32	(1) not later than the 30th day before the date the
33	33	well is to be plugged or replugged, mail notice of the plugger's
34	34	intent to plug or replug the well to the operator of the well at the
35	35	operator's address as shown by the records of the commission;
36	36	(2) assume responsibility for the physical operation
37	37	and control of the well as shown by a form filed with and approved by
38	38	the commission; and
39	39	(3) plug or replug the well in accordance with
40	40	commission rules.
41	41	(d) An operator in good standing who enters into a contract
42	42	under Subsection (b) does not assume responsibility for the
43	43	physical operation and control of the orphaned well and is not
44	44	liable for any plugging or replugging responsibility or damages
45	45	that may occur as a result of acts done or omitted to be done
46	46	relating to plugging or replugging the well under this section.
47	47	(e) Paying money to or contracting with a well plugger to
48	48	plug or replug an orphaned well under this section is not an
49	49	admission that the person paying the money or contracting for the
50	50	plugging or replugging of the well is obligated to plug or replug
51	51	the well. Evidence that a person has paid money to or contracted
52	52	with a well plugger to plug or replug a well under this section is
53	53	not admissible against the person in a suit in which the person's
54	54	obligation to plug or replug the well is an issue, and introducing
55	55	the evidence is a compulsory ground for mistrial.
56	56	(f) The commission shall adopt any rules reasonably
57	57	necessary to implement this section.
58	58	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.